Lepidopterans and their parasitoids on okra plants in Riberao Preto /Lepidopteros e seus parasitoides em cultura de quiabo em Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brasil

The aim of this study was to identify the defoliating lepidopterans and their parasitoids occurring on okra plants in the district of Riberao Preto city (SP. Brazil). Caterpillars were collected by hand from an experimental field of okra, in March and April, 2009. They were placed individually on Petri dishes lined with wet filter paper, containing shredded okra leaves, and kept in a climactic chamber (25 [+ or -] 1[degrees]C, 12:12h light/ dark photoperiod, RH 70 [+ or -] 10%) until the emergence of lepidopterans and/or parasitoids. In all, 63 lepidopterans were obtained: three species of Noctuidae, Anomis flava (Fabricius), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) and Pseudoplusia includens (Walker); one of Pieridae, Ascia monuste orseis (Godart), and an unidentified species of Tortricidae. One unidentified tachinid fly (Diptera) and the Hymenoptera parasitoids Copidosoma floridanum (Ashmead) (Encyrtidae) and Euplectrus sp. (Eulophidae) emerged from A. flava, while C. floridanum and an unidentified tachinid, from P. includens. This is the first report of an association between the herbivores S. frugiperda, P. includens and A. monuste orceis, the parasitoids C. floridanum and Euplectrus sp. on okra plants. Key words: Abelmoschus esculentus, Copidosoma floridanum, Euplectrus, parasitic Hymenoptera, Tachinidae. Este estudo objetivou identificar lepidopteros desfolhadores e seus parasitoides em cultura de quiabo em Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brasil. As lagartas foram coletadas atraves de catacao manual entre marco e abril de 2009, individualizadas em placas de Petri forradas com papel filtro umedecido contendo pedacos de folhas de quiabo e mantidas sob condicoes controladas (25 [+ or -] 1[degrees]C, 12 horas de fotofase, 70 [+ or -] 10% de UR) ate a obtencao dos adultos de lepidopteros e/ ou de seus parasitoides. Foram obtidos 63 adultos de lepidopteros: tres especies de Noctuidae, Anomis flava (Fabricius), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), uma de Pieridae, Ascia monuste orseis (Godart) e uma de Tortricidae nao identificada. Uma especie nao identificada de taquinideo (Diptera) e os Hymenoptera parasitoides Copidosoma floridanum Westwood (Encyrtidae), Euplectrus sp. (Eulophidae) emergiram de A. flava e, C. floridanum e uma especie nao identificada de taquinideo, de P. includens. Este e o primeiro relato da associacao entre S. frugiperda, P. includens e A. monuste orceis e seus parasitoides C. floridanum e Euplectrus sp. em plantas de quiabo. Palav