The lesser cotton leafworm, Anomis impasta (Guenee) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), in cotton

Anomis impasta (Guenee) is a species that shows remarkable morphological and behavioral similarities with the cotton leafworm Alabama argillacea (Huebner). During two growing cotton seasons, A. impasta was observed feeding on leaves and flower bracts of cotton and monitored. Furthermore, a study was conducted under laboratory conditions to generate biological information about this species with larvae feeding cotton squares and leaves. Larvae fed on cotton squares exhibited delayed development (18.5 plus or minus 0.18 days) and lower pupal weight (140.8 plus or minus 2.26 mg) compared to larvae fed on cotton leaves (14.0 plus or minus 0.07 days and 169.3 plus or minus 2.06 mg). Thus, one generation cycle of A. impasta was obtained by feeding the larvae with cotton leaves. The mean (minimum-maximum) values for the duration of eggs, larvae and pupae were: 3.0 (3-4), 14.8 (14-18), and 9.7 (7-14) days, respectively. The viability of the eggs, larvae, and pupae were 43.7, 98.3, and 94.7%, respectively. Females lived on average 25.2 days (ranging from 15 to 37 days) and produced 869 eggs (from 4 to 1,866 eggs). The successful development and reproduction of A. impasta on cotton, especially, on the cotton leaves, suggest the potential of this species to reach a pest status in cotton. The similarities with A. argillacea, as discussed in this study, can be one of the reasons for low reference to A. impasta in the field. Therefore, the information provided here will allow researchers and growers to distinguish these two cotton defoliators.Original Abstract: Anomis impasta (Guenee) e uma especie que apresenta morfologia e comportamento muito similar ao curuquere-do-algodoeiro, Alabama argillacea (Huebner). Durante duas safras de algodao, foi monitorada a alimentacao de A. impasta em folhas e bracteas da cultura. Assim, este estudo foi conduzido para gerar informacoes biologicas sobre a especie. As larvas foram criadas em folhas de algodao e botoes florais (bracteas + botao floral), partes em que as lagartas foram comumente encontradas em campo. Larvas criadas com botao floral apresentaram maior periodo larval (18,5 plus or minus 0,18 dias) e menor peso pupal (140,8 plus or minus 2,26 mg) em comparacao as larvas criadas apenas com folhas (14,0 plus or minus 0,07 dias e 169,3 plus or minus 2,06 mg). Assim, uma geracao de A. impasta foi obtida alimentando-se as larvas com folhas de algodao. A media (variacao) de duracao para a fase de ovo, larva e pupa foi de 3,0 (3 a 4