Aspectos biológicos de Phidotricha erigens Ragonot, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) alimentado con Agave cocui Trel. (Asparagaceae) bajo condiciones de laboratorio | Biological aspects of Phidotricha erigens Ragonot, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) fed on Agave cocui Trel. (Asparagaceae) under laboratory conditions

The life cycle and sexual ratio of pyralid moth Phidotricha erigens Ragonot, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Pyralidae: Epipaschiinae) fed on Agave cocui Trel. was studied under laboratory conditions. The rearing tests started with larvae collected from an experimental parcel of agave, located at Decanato de Agronomía, Tarabana, Palavecino municipality, Lara state, Venezuela. Larvae were reared undertemperature 25 ± 1ºC, 68 ± 10% RH and photoperiod 12:12. The average time in the life cycle (egg-adult) days of P. erigens was 36.19 ± 0.32 days (egg 3.80 ± 0.08; larva 18.67 ± 0.23, prepupa 1.53 ± 0.06 and pupa 12.19 ± 0.15 days). The brood sexual ratio (male:female) was 1:1.26 slightly favorable to females. This information is useful for developing control programs of P. erigens in agave nurseries and plantations