Histological and Histochemical Changes by Clove Essential Oil Upon the Gonads of Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

© 2015, Universidad de la Frontera. All rights reserved. Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous insect that causes economic losses to several crops in Brazil and is the major obstacle to corn production. Researches focusing on alternative control, e.g. botanical products are expanding to offer a wide variety of molecules that interfere with different biological parameters of insect pests. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that clove essential oil affects the spermatogenesis, ovarioles histochemistry and the fertility of S. frugiperda. The results showed that clove essential oil affects the gametogenesis of S. frugiperda ovarioles, reflecting negatively on its reproduction, proving to be a promising tool for controlling this pest.