Author
 |
Jones, Gretchen |
|
CASTELO BRANCO, M - EMBRAPA HORTALICAS |
|
Submitted to: Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/2003 Publication Date: 7/29/2005 Citation: Jones, G.D., Castelo Branco, M. 2005. Food sources of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia Proceedings. 23:366. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: In order to implement an efficient biological control for the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (DBM), it is necessary to identify the plants that serve as food sources for the adults. Eleven populations of DBM adults were sampled from four different agricultural areas near the District Federal in Brazil (Brazlandia, Embrapa Hortalicas, Taquara, and Vargem Bonita) in 2000. Twenty-five adult DBM were analyzed from each population. Insects were acetolyzed and the recovered pollen was identified. Of the five populations collected in Brazlandia, pollen from the Asteraceae and Malvaceae plant families were identified. Poaceae pollen was found in the two populations collected in Taquara. Pollen from the adult DBM collected in Vargem Bonita contained pollen from Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Asteraceae. These results indicate that DBM adults feed on plants from different families and are not restricted to feeding on Brassicaceae taxa. None of the populations collected at Embrapa Hortalicas contained pollen. This may be due in part to the fact that the cabbage fields were free of other plants and that enough cabbage was available so that the adults did not search for alternative food sources. This technique of examining adult insects for pollen can also be used to determine alternative food sources for beneficial insects. When grown near crops, alternative food sources may increase the number of beneficial insects that help control insect pests. |
