Effect of larvae densities of Cerotoma arcuatus on soybean plant

Abstract

Cerotoma arcuatus Olivier is one of the chrysomelids that most damage legumes. This work was carried out to evaluate at greenhouse the direct damages caused by different larval densities to soybean plants in two stages of development. There was no interaction between infestation season and larvae number, however damages were more severe when the infestation occurred eight days after emergence than at 20 days after emergence. Above 30 larvae infestation there was significant reduction in all parameters, indicating that the threshold is below this value.