Preferencia de oviposición de Leptophobia aripa (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) sobre plantas de Brassica oleracea var. Italica en diferentes estados fenológicos

Abstract

Leptophobia aripa (Boisduval) is a limiting species in the production of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica) in the neotropics since its larvae feed on leaves and inflorescences, causing losses to the entire harvest. Lack of knowledge regarding reproductive dynamics makes control difficult and increases production costs. Therefore, identifying critical moments of oviposition would help focus control efforts and prevent economic losses. This study evaluated the oviposition preference of L. aripa concerning the phenological stage of broccoli plants in a commercial crop on an integrated farm in El Santuario, Antioquia-Colom. Over 90 days, 10 staggered plantings were conducted each week for a total of 200 plants, which were monitored weekly for immature stages. The results suggest that females can lay eggs on plants of any age or phenological stage, but prefer young plants when all phenological stages are available. This information can be used to design management strategies focused on this phenological stage, thereby avoiding the use of insecticides near the harvest period and contamination of the final product before consumption. Keywords: Behavior; Integrated Pest Management (IPM); Host plant; Monitoring; Clutch size