Life cycle and biological parameters of Feltia repleta (Walker, 1857) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an economically important cutworm in tropical America

Abstract

Feltia repleta (Walker, 1857) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) occurs throughout most of the American continent, especially in the tropical America. The larvae are polyphagous and often cause significant agricultural damage, as a single caterpillar can sever multiple seedlings, drastically reducing plant stand. This study aims to assess the biological parameters related to the life cycle of F. repleta using artificial diet, under controlled conditions. Total viability was 89.69%; egg, larval, prepupal and pupal viability, was 97.54%, 99.50%, 94.44% and 97.86%, respectively. The average duration of the egg, larval, prepupal, pupal and adult stages, was 4.00, 18.70, 2.63, 16.25 and 13.91 days, respectively. All reared larvae developed through six instars. The duration of the larval and pupal stages were significantly shorter in females than in males from the fifth instar on. The reproductive parameters of F. repleta were lower when each female was paired with one male (set 1) than each female was paired with three males (set 2) in relation to the average mating number and fecundity. In a different way, pre-oviposition, oviposition periods and female longevity were longer in Set 1. The net reproductive rate (Ro), intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ) of set 1 insects were lower and, once again, the parameter related to development time (mean generation time—T) was greater in set 1. The biotic potential of F. repleta on set 1 insects was estimated at in 5.34218 while in the set 2 the value was almost thousand times higher 3.52721 individuals/female/year.