Effect of Food Attractants and Insecticide Toxicity for the Control of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Adults

An alternative for the population suppression of Spodoptera frugiperda is the use of toxic baits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dietary preference and toxic effect of insecticides associated with the attractiveness of S. frugiperda adults as a pest management method. The following attractions were tested: 1) 5% sucrose solution, 2) 10% sugarcane syrup, 3) 10% honey, 4) 5% hydrolyzed protein, 5) Noctovi® 43sb, 6) Noctovi® OVI PLU 1-3, 7) Noctovi® OVI PHE/PAL 50-50 in the study with choice. Attractions: 1) sugarcane syrup 10%, 2) Noctovi® 43sb, 3) Noctovi® 43sb + sugarcane syrup 10%, 4) Noctovi® OVI PLU 1-3 in the study with no chance of choice. For the toxicity study, the food attraction associated with insecticides was used: methomyl 2%, lambda-cyhalothrin 1%, chlorpyriphos 2%, spinosad 1%, chlorantraniliprole 2% and chlorfenapyr 2%. The experimental design was the completely randomized design (CRD) with chance of choice, without chance of choice and toxicity. The following parameters were evaluated: number of insects that fed; time in minutes that remained in the attractive food and mortality. The molasses (10%) and Noctovi® 43sb food attractiveness were significantly more efficient in relation to feeding time and the highest number of landings was observed in the Noctovi® 43sb treatment, both in females and total adults. Methomyl, lambda-cyhalothrin and spinosad insecticides associated with food attractiveness are promising toxic baits for the management of S. frugiperda.