TABELA DE VIDA DE FERTILIDADE DE Helicoverpa zea (BODDIE, 1850) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) EM DUAS DIETAS ARTIFICIAIS FERTILITY LIFE TABLE OF Helicoverpa zea (BODDIE, 1850) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) IN TWO ARTIFICIAL DIETS

An experiment was conducted to determine the most appropriate artificial diet for growing of Helicoperva zea in laboratory conditions. The diet was formulated based on the parameters contained in the table of fertility life. Adults of H. zea were collected in corn fields in Pelotas/RS, Brazil. One hundred and fifty caterpillars were placed in glass tubes (2.5 cm diameter x 8.5 cm height) containing two artificial diets (diet A - Greene and diet B - modified Greene). After eclosion, 20 couples were placed in individual cylindrical PVC cages. Daily mortality, fecundity and viability of eggs were measured. The following parameters of the table of fertility life were measured: interval between generations (T), net rates of reproduction (Ro), intrinsic growth rates (rm) and finite tax of growing (ћ). The values of Ro, rm and ћ were higher for caterpillars fed diet B than for the ones fed diet A. The table of fertility life can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the diets. Diet B was the most appropriate for growing of H. zea in laboratory conditions.