First record of Peridroma saucia Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in transgenic soybeans

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT The widespread cultivation of transgenic soybeans has caused significant changes in the spectrum of Lepidoptera larvae, both in the number of species as well as on their densities in the field. Transgenic crops producing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins have successfully reduced the incidence of the most common caterpillars infesting soybeans, namely Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera Erebidae) and Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera Noctuidae). However, lepidopteran species not previously recorded on the crop have been recently found, and are of concern due to the possibility of adaptation to the genetically modified cultivars. The occurrence of Peridroma saucia Hübner (Lepidoptera Noctuidae) is described for the first time in Brazil feeding on genetically modified soybean cultivars.