first report of predation by microlepidoptera (lepidoptera, tortricidae, olethreutinae) on seeds of cupania vernalis cambess. (sapindaceae) in southern brazil

This study aimed to identify the insect that attacks seeds of Cupania vernalis Cambess. and to describe some of its characteristics of predation. In southern Brazil, 754 fruits were collected, from 13 trees, between December 2010 and January 2011. The larvae that were found preying on the seeds were kept in an incubator with a photoperiod of 12h at 25°C, until they reached the adult stage. The microlepidoptera (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae, Olethreutinae) was responsible for the predation of 275 seeds (9.4%), from a total of 2,920 seeds assessed. From each batch of seeds, an average of 5.943g of substrate was consumed, representing 38.2% of the total weight of the seeds.