POPULATION-DYNAMIC OF THE PREDATOR DORU L UTEIPES SCUDDER ON MAIZE PLANTS

The predator Doru luteipes (Scudder) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) has sh own a great potential as a biological control agent against two key pe sts of maize, the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) and the corn earworm Helicoverpa tea (Boddie). This work was conducted with th e objective of verifying the presence of the predator on maize field c rop, during six years, with monthly planting time, in Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil, at Embrapa-CNPMS. Weekly, 100 whorls of maize plants were sho wn, and the number of ovipositions nymphs and adults of the predator w as recorded. The percentage of plants with at least one individual (ny mph or adult) was also computed. The presence of the predator was gene ralized. The greatest occurrence was observed during the summer time, which is the best period for maize growth in the region. An average of 4.11 egg masses, 10.65 nymphs and 84.19 adults was observed for each 100 sampled plants. Plants with the insect were 42.8% on average, reac hing in some planting dates the level of 95%. Along the year, a quadra tic response between planting dates and the insect life stages was obs erved. However, when splitting the planting dates in two periods befor e and after the minimum point of adjusted curve, the relationship was linear for all stages.