Ritmos circadianos e preferência pela busca de alimento de larvas de Pseudoplusia includens (Walker, 1857) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

An understanding of behavior patterns that are fundamental to the biology of pest insects is a requisite for implementation of control strategies. This study aims to evaluate the circadian rhythms of Pseudoplusia includens larvae in four different natural diets. The study was conducted in laboratory for 48 hours hourly. The experimental design was randomized with four treatments (leaf discs) and ten reaplications with free choice. The treatments were: leaves of Rumex obtusifolius, Trifolium repens, Plantago lanceolata and Malus domestica. The caterpillars visited more leaves of T. repens and R. obtusifolius than the leaves of M. domestica and P. lanceolata. The searching activity lasted for the 48 hours of the observation during the 24 hours and the increase in the searching activity occurred between 16 to 21 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]