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EFFECT OF EXTRACTS OF ARISTOLOCHIA LAGESIANA (ARISTOLOCHIACEAE) ON VELVETBEAN CATERPILLARS

ABSTRACT

Various reports have shown that species of the genusAristolochia, whose plants are distributed throughout Brazilian territory, can produce biological effects. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the action of extracts of Aristolochia lagesianaUle. var. intermedia Hoehne (Aristolochiaceae) on the velvetbean caterpillar. The bioassays were conducted at the Biology and Rearing Insect Laboratory of the FCAV/UNESP in Jaboticabal, state of São Paulo, SP, Brazil, and at the Chemistry Organic Laboratory of the IQ/UNESP in Araraquara, SP. The relative toxicity of the extracts was evaluated through the topical application of 1 µL of extract solution on the mesothorax of third-instar Anticarsia gemmatalis larvae, using a microsyringe, connected to a microapplicator apparatus. Plants were extracted in acetone, which was completely evaporated before the application. For applying on insects, extracts were diluted in ethanol to obtain the following dosages: 6.0, 9.6, 13.2, 16.8, 20.4 and 22.0 mg/?L. Extracts of A. lagesiana increased the duration of the larval phase, decreased the pupae weight and also the larval viability.

KEY WORDS
Insecticide plant; deleterious effects; acetone extracts

Instituto Biológico Av. Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves, 1252 - Vila Mariana - São Paulo - SP, 04014-002 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: arquivos@biologico.sp.gov.br