Improving the Palatability of a Bacillus thuringiensis-Based Insecticide to Increase Toxic Activity in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.9992427123

• Palavras-chave: -

• Keywords: Feeding stimulant, insecticidal activity, fall armyworm, palatability, toxic activity

• Abstract: The colony of Spodoptera frugiperda was established on an artificial diet based on soy flour. The insects were maintained in controlled humidity, temperature, and photoperiod conditions. The average number of valuable larvae for bioassay was approximately 2000 individuals for each generation. The feeding stimulants were obtained by sowing, harvesting, drying, and grinding maize, sorghum, alfalfa, tomato, soybean, and pinto bean plants in fine powder and commercial safflower oil. The Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticide was mixed with the corresponding feeding stimulant. The insecticide applications were carried out at the greenhouse level on maize plants with artificial infestation. The results indicated that the lowest percentage of leaf damage was observed with insecticides containing the safflower oil and pinto bean as feeding stimulants. The highest percentages of leaf damage were observed in those insecticides without feeding stimulants.