Adaptation of dietary habits of native lepidopteran species to eucalyptus plantations has become a treat to productivity in Brazil. Considered as a secondary pest, Oxydia vesulia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is frequently reported in eucalyptus plantations and associated with outbreaks and economic damages. New methods have been tested to control several lepidopterous-pests and Tetrastichus howardi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a pupae endoparasitoid, that has been reported as efficient for control caterpillars on major crops. Despite being a pupae parasitoid, its parasitism was tested in O. vesulia caterpillars. Fourth instar caterpillars were offered to the parasitoids, 10 parasitoids per larvae, with 24 hours old. After exposure larvae were kept in pots with leaves of Eucalyptus urophylla changed daily until the pupal stage, kept under laboratory controlled conditions (25±1ºC, RH: 60±10% and photophase: 12 h). T. howardi did not emerged from parasitized O. vesulia caterpillars, however positive results were found for pest control. A total of 40% of the caterpillars died before reaching the prepupal stage, other 40% reached the pupal stage and died due poor formation or problems at emergence and 20% survived. Although the parasitoid has not been able to complete its cycle in caterpillars, it shows itself as promising in controlling the pest in its most critical stage of occurrence. Studies on the potential parasitism of T. howardi on O. vesulia in the field must be developed to verify the effectiveness of this parasitoid.

04 - Effects of parasitism by Tetrastichus howardi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on Oxydia vesulia caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)