Flufenoxuron effects on copulating capacity of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) males

Abstract

The effect of benzoilphenylureas was studied on the copulating capacity of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) males. Two groups of third instar larvae were treated with flufenoxuron, one by ingestion and another by contact with an DL60 rate. After emergence of the adults, ten males of the each treatment were put individualy in a filter paper cylinder, from the first night until death, in the presence of a virgin female that shift daily. After the female death they were desiccated in order to see the presence or not of the spermatophore in the bursa copulatrix. It was observed that the S. littoralis males that proceeded from the flufenoxuron treated larvae did not change their copulating capacity. The metodology was considerate efficient to evaluate the copulate capacity of this specie males.