To evaluate the effects of pre-harvest sugarcane burning on predator insects, a second ratoon of sugarcane area were studied, for two consecutive seasons (92/93 and 93/94), as follows: a half of the sugarcane area was burned (CQ), while another half was not burned (CC), before mechanical harvesting. In CQ all trash remainder in the field after harvesting was also burned. After the 92/93 harvesting, during two years, collects of insects by light and pitfall traps, as well, evaluation of sugarcane borer eggs predation were carried out on both areas. Faunistic analyses (frequence, constancy, diversity and equitativity) were applied on the collected and identified entomofauna, from both areas. In CC area 14.25% and 61.84% more insects were collected, by light and pitfall traps, respectively, than in CQ area. Egg predation was significantly higher in CC area than in CQ area. Populations of predator insects are, therefore, higher in number of species and individuals, and they have a better distribution during crop development in CC area than in CQ area.
Insecta; sugarcane borer; predators
