Monitoramento de injúrias causada por Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) na cultura do milho

Abstract

Integrated Pest Management (MIP) is the main tool used by the producer to achieve efficiency in the control of pest populations. Since Spodoptera frugiperda is the main insect-pest that attacks corn, with this problem the determination of the level of damage stands out, so that the chemical control becomes efficient. In this work, plant monitoring was used to visually evaluate scraped or pierced leaves, using the Davis scale method as a parameter to estimate the level of damage caused by insects. Assessments were carried out 15 days after emergence, 30 and 45 days, providing data and real information on the level of attack of the pest. It is possible to compare the level of damage in the field with chemical control decision making. In three of the four properties, the chemical intervention occurred when the level of damage had already exceeded 17% of attacked plants with damage equal to or greater than three, indicating losses in the crop. The Davis scale damage measurement tool is not adopted in the evaluated properties.