CONSUMO Y COEFICIENTE DE UTILIZACIóN DEL ALIMENTO DE Heliothis spp. y Manduca sexta (Butler) EN EL CULTIVAR DE TABACO IT 2004

the tobacco (nicotiana tabacum l.) crop is affected by defoliators which cause considerable losses in leaf yields and quality. the presents study was carried out to determine the consumption rate and the food utilization coefficient of heliothis spp. and manduca sexta b. feeding on the tobacco cultivar it 2004. twenty third and fourth instar larvae were collected from the studied lepidoptera reared under semi-controlled conditions. the larvae were subjected to mandatory feeding for 24 hours. after this period, the average leaf surface consumed was quantified and the feed utilization coefficient determined. m. sexta showed the highest average leaf consumption in 24 hours and greatest homogeneity in feeding activity, while heliothis spp. had the highest coefficient of food utilization, an aspect the could justify the damages by these insect in the crop.