Uso de polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) no controle de Ascia monuste em cultivo de couve Brassica oleraceae Var. Acephala (Brassicaceae)

Abstract

Social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are used effectively in biological control, mainly of Lepidoptera larvae, that attack different cultures in Brazil. Ascia monuste orseis is a key pestle of kale (Brassica oleraceae var. acephala) and can cause losses of up to 100% in production, necessitating forms of control of this insect. The objective of this work is to test the species Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) for the biological control of A. monuste orseis, in autumn and winter, a period of better development of kale. The present work was carried out at the IFMG - Bambuí Campus, from May to June 2017, where four colonies of P. versicolor were translocated to artificial shelters close to the common cabbage crop. A. monuste orseis caterpillars. The translocation of colonies of P. versicolor to kale during cold and drought periods was not effective for the control of the A. monuste orseis population, due to the low forage activity of this social wasp and, consequently, low predation on the target pest, however, an evaluation is necessary in the hottest and humid periods of the year, since P. versicolor effectively preys different lepidopteran species.