The degree of in vivo compatibility between the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) and castor oil is important, as the interaction can be additive, synergistic or antagonistic. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the in vivo compatibility between castor oil and B. bassiana on the coffee berry borer. The CCA-UFES/Bb-4 isolate of B. bassiana was used in concentrations of 0.0 (control), 1 x 104, 1 x 105, 1 x 106 and 1 x 107 conidia mL-1. The concentrations of castor oil were: 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% v v-1. The total and confirmed mortality were evaluated, and data submitted to variance analysis. To verify the effect of B. bassiana and castor oil concentrations, the data were submitted to regression analysis at 5% probability. Castor oil had an antagonistic effect on B. bassiana reducing the mortality of coffee berry borer. The mortality of H. hampei reduced caused by interaction between B. bassiana and castor oil, due to increasing concentration of castor oil. Lower interference of castor oil was observed for high concentrations of B. bassiana. Based on the results, management of H. hampei cannot be normally performed using the association between castor bean oil and B. bassiana, except if the economic viability of the higher concentrations justified. Key words: Ricinus communis; Botanical insecticides; Biological control; Phytosanitary pest management; Coffee crop.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acute toxicity, sublethal effect and behavioral alteration of L. serricorne exposed to the major components of essential oils, thymol, camphor, terpineol, camphene, eucalyptol, limonene, βpinene and eugenol. The adults of L. serricorne , aged 5 days, not sexed, were submitted to acute toxicity by fumigation, used fumigation chambers, 200 ml glass containers with 20 insects, subsequently the sublethal effect, longevity and behavioral response. The results show that the major components and mixtures caused acute toxicity, reduced the survival time and production of offspring and altered the behavioral activity of L. serricorne. The major components eucalyptol and terpineol presented 65% mortality, in which the mixtures terpineol + eucalyptol and camphor + thymol presented 47 and 52% over adults of L. serricorne. The mixture between terpineol + limonene allowed only 4% ofadults to L. serricorneemerge. Behavioral activity was altered by the eucalyptol + eugenol mixture. The results showed that the major components and mixtures are promising for the preparation and production of new insecticides.

Cannibalism is a frequent behavior in Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) larvae either in the field or in a laboratory. The purpose of this work was to investigate the factors temperature and food quantity on the cannibal behavior in instars of this insect under laboratory conditions. The neonates were conditioned at temperatures of 22, 25, 28 and 31 ± 1°C until they reached the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th instar. The number of 20 larvae were transferred to different gerbox^® with the amount of food varying from 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g of artificial diet. Cannibalism was evaluated after 72 hours. In all the instars evaluated, the larvae showed cannibalistic behavior as a function of temperature and amount of food. The amount of 15 g of artificial diet is sufficient to feed the 3^rd and 4^th instar larval for 72h, regardless of temperature. For the 5^th instar this amount is 10 g.

Spodoptera eridania is considered a polyphagous pest, as it attacks several crops. The aim of this study was to identify a virus isolate present in symptomatic S. eridania caterpillars. The virus sample was extracted and OBs purification performed. Viral DNA was extracted using the PureLink Viral RNA/DNA Mini Kit (ThermoFisher) and primers prl8-1 and prl8-1B were used for amplification of the gene fragment. The isolate was identified showing high genetic similarity with the isolate “Spodoptera eridania nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate CNPSo-165”, characterizing itself as a novelty in the scenario and as promising, adding the tactics available for the integrated management of S. eridania.

The Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) has been studied and applied in controlling the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. This pest serves as the primary host for in vivo replication of this biological control agent. For viral inoculation, the virus is introduced into an artificial diet, which is also used for large-scale host multiplication. In this study, we tested more cost-effective diets to optimize the viral inoculation stage. Each diet was treated with the virus and monitored daily for host mortality. Viral production parameters were subsequently quantified. Although the evaluated diets did not achieve the same yield levels as those used for large-scale S. frugiperda multiplication, the D7 diet showed similar cost-effectiveness to the D2 diet in terms of producing one dose per hectare. Additionally, larvae consuming diets higher in crude protein exhibited reduced viral polyhedra production.