Azadirachtin-based biopesticide affects the respiration and digestion in Anticarsia gemmatalis caterpillars

Abstract

Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera) is a soybean pest controlled mainly with synthetic insecticides. The effects of azadirachtin-based biopesticide (Azamax^®) were investigated against A. gemmatalis caterpillars for toxicity, survival, respiration, antifeeding effects, and midgut histopathology. Concentration–mortality show LC₅₀ = 0.58 g L⁻¹ to A. gemmatalis. Survival caterpillars decrease to 30% after biopesticide exposure. The biopesticide decrease the respiration rate and food consumption by caterpillars. The midgut of insects exposed to the biopesticide undergoes histopathological changes. Azadirachtin-based biopesticide exhibits lethal and sublethal on A. gemmatalis and can be used in integrated pest management programs as an alternative to control this pest.

Keywords:

• Anti-feeding effect
• biopesticide
• histopathology
• oxygen consumption
• survival
• toxicity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The present work was financially supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (303467/2018-15), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) (code 001), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) (APQ 00856-10).