We studied Spodoptera frugiperda development using different food sources in the laboratory and field. Newly hatched larvae were fed soybean, cotton, maize, wheat, and oat leaves. An artificial diet was used as the control. Duration of pre-pupal, pupal, and larva-adult period, pupal weight, sex ratio, survival, larva feeding preferences, oviposition preferences, and nutritional quality of different hosts were evaluated. Insects fed on wheat showed the shortest larva-adult period. The insects fed on cotton and soybean had longer larval development cycles and pupae of lower weight. Feeding preference was evident for third instar larvae and did not differ between wheat, oat, maize, and soybean, which were the preferred hosts. Moths oviposited to a greater extent on the upper canopy of wheat than that of other plants in both the no-choice and free-choice tests. Treatments influenced insect growth, food consumption, and digestion when nutritional variables were analyzed. Thus, grasses were better hosts for S. frugiperda development. Cotton was the least preferred food, followed by soybean. The present study can improve our understanding of S. frugiperda in these different crops and help in developing management strategies. Even though S. frugiperda is considered to be polyphagous, this pest is closely associated with grasses (maize, wheat, oat) and has lower potential as a soybean or cotton feeder. Howerver, S. frugiperda food intake regulation appears to be triggered by a complex of different mechanisms. Thus, S. frugiperda can also damage soybean and cotton and adapt to them in the absence of preferred hosts.

Pesticides are considered the first line of defense for the control of pests and diseases. At least in the short and medium term, the use of pesticides will remain an important strategy for pest management, allowing growers to produce crops of sufficient quality at low costs. A broad approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines several different pest-control strategies, among which the combination of chemical and biological control stands out. It requires pesticides that achieve optimal control of target pests with minimal impact on the activity of biological control agents. Because of the dynamics of pest infestations, IPM routines are continuously adjusted by growers, requiring comprehensive information about pesticide effects on natural enemies. However, this information is not always available and often contradictory, which constrains the design of field recommendations. In this review, we focused on the importance of selective pesticides in IPM programs, and the effects of chemical pesticides on parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi. We provided a detailed discussion of the challenges and constraints for research on pesticide effects on natural enemies, as well as for the resulting field recommendations.

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Chrysodeixis includens (Walker 1858), also known as soybean looper, is a polyphagous pest with increasing economic significance in various crops. The rate of infestation and its distribution can be influenced by feeding through direct and indirect effects on their life cycles. Thus, this study aimed to examine the biological characteristics, food preference and leaf consumption of C. includens on soybean (BRS 284), cotton (FMT 701), sunflower (BRS 323) and common morning glory leaves (Ipomoea sp.) as possible host plants. The experiments were conducted with specimens obtained from mass rearing in the laboratory. C. includens larval and larval-adult stages were shorter in sunflower and longer in cotton. Also, larval preference was greater for sunflower and lower for cotton leaves. Soybean leaves were consumed the least in contrast to sunflower and common morning glory leaves, which were consumed the most. These results suggest that soybean, sunflower or common morning glory leaves were favourable hosts for C. includens development, whereas cotton leaves are less nutritionally adequate for insect development. In addition, sunflower leaves reduce C. includens development time and promotes a survival rate greater than 95%, and the leaves are more attractive to larvae when compared with the other tested hosts. This indicates sunflower is the most favourable host among the tested plants for C. includens.

RESUMO -Este trabalho avaliou a seletividade de inseticidas a adultos de Doru lineare. Os testes foram conduzidos em condições controladas. Os inseticidas testados (g i.a. ha -1 ) foram: flubendiamida (72); clorantraniliprole (30); clorantraniliprole (15) + lambda-cialotrina (7,5); lambda-cialotrina (7,5); clorpirifós (480); e controle (água destilada).Os tratamentos foram aplicados em arenas compostas de placas de vidro (área 169 cm 2 ), aprisionando o inseto com anéis de PVC. A extremidade superior do anel foi protegida com tecido fino (tule), onde os adultos receberam aplicação tópica dos inseticidas através de Torre de Potter. A sobrevivência dos insetos foi avaliada 24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 horas após a exposição dos adultos aos tratamentos. Flubendiamida e clorantraniliprole foram classificados como inócuo (classe 1) a D. lineare e, portanto, são apropriados para uso em programas de Manejo Integrado de Pragas (MIP) porque podem ser aplicados preservando o controle biológico natural. Clorpirifós, lambda-cialotrina e clorantraniprole + lambdacialotrina foram nocivo (classe 4), moderadamente nocivo (classe 3) e levemente nociva (classe 2), respectivamente.Produtos não seletivos precisam ser também testados em semi-campo e campo para avaliar a persistência. Inseticidas nocivos e persistentes devem, sempre que possível, ser substituídos por outros mais seletivos.ABSTRACT -This study aimed at assessing selectivity of insecticides to adults of Doru lineare. The tests were performed under controlled environmental conditions. Insecticides tested (g a.i. ha -1 ) were: flubendiamide (72); chlorantraniliprole (30); chlorantraniliprole (15) + lambda-cyhalothrin (7.5); lambda-cyhalothrin (7.5); chlorpyriphos (480); and control (distilled water). Treatments were sprayed over arenas made up with glass plates (area 169 cm 2 ), imprisoning the insect with PVC rings. The top of the rings was protected with a fine fabric (tulle) where adult insects were sprayed with insecticides using a Potter Tower. Insect survival was assessed at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after exposing adults to the treatments. Flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole were classified as harmless (class 1) to D.lineare and therefore apropriated to be used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs since they can be sprayed preserving natural biological control. Chlorpyriphos, lambda-cyhalothrin and the mixture of chlorantraniliprole + lambda-cyhalothrin were harmful (class 4), moderately harmful (class 3), and slightly harmful (class 2), respectively.Non-selective products should also be tested in semi-field and field conditions to evaluate its persistence. Whenever possible, noxious and persistent insecticides should be replaced for more selective ones.