Natural enemies of Rachiplusia nu (Guenée, 1852) and Pseudoplusia includens (Walker, 1857) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on soybean in Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

A survey of P. includens and R. nu natural enemies was carried out during 1986/87 and 1987/88 growing seasons in soybean fields in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The predators were quantified in the field. The parasitoids and pathogens were evaluated in the laboratory on larvae of all sizes. The predators observed, from higher to lower amounts were, spiders; Nabis sp.; Lebia concina, Geocoris sp.; Chrysopa sp.; Podisus sp.; Callida sp.; Calosoma granulatum and Eriopis connexa. The parasitoids observed were: Campoletis sonorensis, Microcharops bimaculata, Mesochorus discitergus, Casinaria plusiae, Cotesia grenadensis, Meteorus sp.; Apanteles sp.; Rogas sp.; Copidosoma floridanus; Euphorocera sp.; Lespesia sp.; Patelloa similis; Voria ruralis. The tachinids, ichneumonids and the C. grenadensis braconid occurred from December until Frebruary; in the other side, C. floridanus and Meteorus sp. had more expression during February month. The patogens observed were: Nomuraea rileyi, Entomophthora sp. and Erynia crustosa.