Effect of dislodgers on the walking behavior of the fall armyworm

Resumo

Dislodgers have been used in Brazil as pest behavior modulators, in order to enhance the effectiveness of chemical control of agricultural pests. This study evaluated the effect of seven commercial dislodgers on the walking behavior of Spodoptera frugiperda caterpillars at the 2^nd and 4^th instars. Using a computational tracking system (Ethovision^® XT) in a controlled environment, the total distance traveled and walking speed over a 10-min period was measured. Creolin Pearson^® and Kumulus DF^® were the most effective in stimulating the locomotion of 4^th instar caterpillars. Additionally, the residual activity of Kumulus DF^® was evaluated over time, revealing a rapid decline in its dislodging effect (less than 15 min). These findings suggest that caterpillar developmental stage influences responsiveness to dislodging agents, with more pronounced effects observed in 4^th instar caterpillars. The temporary efficacy of sulfur-based formulations like Kumulus DF^® may be linked to olfactory desensitization and behavioral plasticity. These are valuable insights for optimizing the use of pest behavior modulators in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs targeting S. frugiperda.