Hypocala andremona (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) are the main insect-pests of the persimmon in the Serra Gaúcha region, State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). No informations are available about chemical control of these caterpillars. The effect of acephate, emmamectin benzoate (+ mineral oil), clorpyriphos-ethyl, spinosad, etofenprox, fenitrothion, fosmet, methoxyfenozide, tiacloprid and trichlorphon on H. andremona and A. sphaleropa were evaluated in laboratory. Acephate (g.a.i.100 L-1) (37.5 and 75.0), emmamectin benzoate (0.375 and 0.5), clorpyriphos-ethyl (45.0 and 67.5), spinosad (4.8 and 9.6), etofenprox (10.0 and 15.0), fenitrothion (75.0), methoxyfenozide (14.4) and trichlorphon (120,0 and 150,0) resulted in a mortality of A. sphaleropa higher than 80.0%. For H. andremona, this effect was observed to acephate (37.5 and 75.0), emmamectin benzoate (0.375 and 0.5), clorpyriphos-ethyl (45.0 and 67.5), spinosad (4.8 and 9.6), etofenprox (10.0 and 15.0), fenitrothion (50.0 and 75.0), fosmet (50.0 and 100.0), methoxyfenozide (9.6 and 14.4) and trichlorphon (120.0 and 150.0). These insecticides showed potential to control caterpillars in the persimmon culture, being necessary field evaluations to use the compounds in commercial orchards.
South American tortricid moth; persimmon; caterpillars; insecticide
