DAMAGE TO APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA, BORK.) CAUSED BY SPODOPTERA SPP (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)

Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1782) and Spodoptera latifascia (Walk., 1848) started to appear in apple orchards in Fraiburgo, SC, in early January 1987, and the attack continued until March 1987.

The populational peack of this insect occurred between February 10 and 19 with a mean number of 12.7 larvae/m² at the ground level between tree rows.

Larvae newly hatched fed on apple leaves located near to the oviposition sites, as well as on growing shoots.
Fruits were not attacked in this initial stage of the insect development.
They came down to the ground to feed on grass and mainly on cloves leaves.
Near to the last larval state the insect climbed back to the tree and fed on fruits, turning them unmarketable.
The percentage of fruits damaged was of 35.4% and 24.7% for two orchards.

International Workshop on Apple Culture in the Tropics and Subtropics

I. Nora, W. Reis Fo

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1988.232.28