Mexia, AntónioGonçalves, C.I.Amaro, F.Figueiredo, E.Godinho, M.C.2009-03-272009-03-272003-05Encontro Nacional de Protecção Integrada, 6º, Castelo Branco, 2003http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/720The acceptance and suitability of a species of Trichogramma captured in a processing tomatoes field in a tract of marshy land alongside a river, in Vila Franca “lezíria”, of the eggs of four species of noctuids (Helicoverpa armigera, Thysanoplusia orichalcea, Autographa gamma e Chrysodeixis chalcites) is studied in a preliminary trial. The specificity of the Trichogramma species towards the key pest of tomato, H. armigera, is evaluated, as well as the potential of other noctuids present in the processing tomato ecosystem as its alternative hosts. Acceptance is evaluated offering eggs of the four species of noctuids to Trichogramma sp. females while suitability is inferred from the biological traits of the progeny. In spite of the small differences between hosts, it is observed that all the hosts evaluated are readily accepted to parasitism by Trichogramma sp. females, and are suitable to parasitoid development. This species of Trichogramma does not seem to show specificity towards H. armigera, which suggests the importance of the remaining lepidopterans as parasitoid hosts in the field.portrichogrammahelicoverpa armigerathysanoplusia orichalceaautographa gammachrysodeixis chalciteshost acceptancehost suitabilityaceitação do hospedeiroadequabilidade do hospedeiroconference object