Interferência da cafeina nos aspectos biológicos de Euborellia annulipes (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) e Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Caffeine is a low molecular weight purine alkaloid. May have positive or negative effect, depending on concentration and frequency of use. It can act pathologically, delaying growth, development and reproduction, even causing paralysis or death in insects, varying according to the dosage applied. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of different caffeine concentrations added to artificial diet on the behavior of biological aspects of Euborellia annulipes and Spodoptera frugiperda. The research was developed at the Agricultural Entomology Laboratory of the Center for Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Paraíba (LEN / UFPB), Campus II, Areia-Pb. The caffeine substance used in the experimental tests was a trademark Nutrata® with a concentration of 210 mg per capsule. The species used in the experiments E. annulipes and S. frugiperda, came from breeding already established in the laboratory itself. Caffeine was added to the diet of E. annulipes nymphs at concentrations of: 0; 1; 2; 3 and 4% and in the diet for S. frugiperda caterpillars in the concentrations of: 0; 0.5; 1; 2 and 3%. For E. annulipes it was observed that treatments with concentrations of up to 3% of caffeine had lower insect mobility. In the treatment with concentration of 4%, the insects showed atypical behavior, occurring frequency of cannibalism, also in this concentration, was observed prolongation of the nymphal period. Evaluating the relationship between caffeine concentration and feeding time by S. frugiperda caterpillars, a proportional relationship between these parameters is observed. The estimated LD 50 in the evaluation of caffeine action on S. frugiperda is 1.18%. Caffeine added to the diet for the immature phases of E. annulipes and S. frugiperda causes behavioral changes and interferes with the biological characteristics of these species