Development and soybean leaf consumption by Urbanus proteus proteus (L.)

Abstract

Urbanus proteus proteus (L.) is a defoliating pest of legumes, causing damage mainly on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and, being a minor pest, little is known about its bioecology. The objective of this paper was to study the larval and pupal development of the insect and the foliar consumption during its instars. Durations of 16.7; 1.1; 11.4 and 29.2 days were determined for the caterpillar, prepupal, and pupal stages, and the period from caterpillar-adult, respectively, with a total viability of 84.8%. The larval stage had five instars and the consumption of leaf area was 214.3 cm², with the consumption of the two last instars representing 96.9% of the total. Based on this value, the control level of the pest was estimated as 17 large caterpillars per sampling.