Biology of Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée 1854) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): pest of economic importance of naranjilla, an Amazonian fruit of Ecuador

The fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée 1854) is the main pest infesting naranjilla crop (Solanum quitoense) in Ecuador, causing up to 70% loss of production. This research describes the biology of this insect in a laboratory environment simulating the subtropical environment of the Amazonian Andes (average temperature of 24 ± 1 °C and relative humidity of 85%). Adult insects were sexed, a population created with a ratio of two males for each female and larvae were reared in unripe naranjilla fruits. Eggs were placed on the fruit in masses of 3 to 15 units. Five larval instars were confirmed according to width of the cephalic capsules with a total larval duration of 20.4 ± 0.13 days. The pupal stage lasted 13.02 ± 0.35 days. Male adults had longevity of 10.06 ± 1.75 days and females 10.86 ± 1.30 days. Finally, pre-oviposition period lasted 2.67 ± 0.72 days, oviposition 4.33 ± 1.90 days and post-oviposition 3.87 ± 1.13 days.