title: Lepidopterans as potential agents for the biological control of the invasive plant, Miconia calvescens.
abstract: This work investigated eight species of Lepidoptera associated with Miconia calvescens DC. (Myrtales: Melastomataceae) in Brazil, including six defoliators, Salbia lotanalis Druce (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Druentia inscita Schaus (Mimallonidae), Antiblemma leucocyma Hampson (Noctuidae), three Limacodidae species, a fruit borer Carposina cardinata Meyrick (Carposinidae), and a damager of flowers Pleuroprucha rudimentaria Guenée (Geometridae). Based on host specificity and the damage caused to plants, S. lotanalis and D. inscita are the most promising species for biological control of M. calvescens. Furthermore, if C. cardinata and P. rudimentaria have host specificity in future tests, these caterpillars could also be considered as appropriate biocontrol agents.
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Roraima-Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation's, Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. elisangela.fidelis@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elisangela G F
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Marcelo C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Picanço
authors.forename: Altair A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Semeão
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Jander F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D058507:Host Specificity; D058865:Introduced Species; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D035322:Melastomataceae / Q000469:parasitology*; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014887:Weather