“…This reduction in growth indicates two possible modes of action, feeding deterrence causing a reduction in food consumption and/or post-ingestive chronic toxicity (Wheeler et al, 2001). As a consequence of these results, the insect could be more vulnerable to the action of entomopathogens, entomophagous agents and environmental variations, since it remains longer in the field (crop) (Tanzubil and McCaffery, 1990;Batista-Pereira et al, 2002). Moreover, adults emerging from low-weight pupae could be more debilitated and would have lower capacity of competition for vital activities than individuals from healthy pupae.…”