The development of Thyrinteina arnobia Stoll (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) caterpillars fed either on Eucalyptus urophylla or Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) leaves was studied in laboratory. The first instar was the most critical for survival of this insect in both diets. Shortest larval period (27 days) was obtained for males on guava leaves, with the longest one for caterpillars which originated females or males with E. urophylla leaves (37 days). No insects feeding on guava leaves which originated males reached six instar while the sexual ratio with this diet was 0.6. With E. urophylla leaves, 58.3% of males presented six instars with a sexual ratio of 0.3. The width of head capsules of the caterpillars, for both sexes, was significantly different in both diets, being bigger for those fed with guava leaves, with rates of 4.3; 6.2; 10.0 and 13.0%, from the second to the fifth instar, respectively. This rate reached 28.0% in the sixth instar, corresponding to an increase of 113.0% in relation to the previous instar, indicating that individuals fed on guava leaves are stronger and more vigorous than those fed on E. urophylla. Largest width of the head capsule was associated to high viability and short duration of the larval period for individuals fed on guava leaves what suggests that this diet is more suitable for rearing this insect. T. arnobia is a native pest of guava and probably it is not adapted to feed on Eucalyptus yet.
Insecta; Eucalyptus brown caterpillar; Eucalyptus defoliator; guava
