Metodologia de criação de Lonomia sp. (Walker, 1855) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) em laboratório

Abstract

One of the Lepidoptera species of greatest medical interest in Brazil is Lonomia obliqua, due to its toxin that can cause hemorrhages, intense fibrinolytic action, kidney failure that can lead to coma and even death. In this context, given the severity of accidents caused by contact with Lonomia spp. Instituto Butantan has been producing antilonomic serum since 1994. This process, so far, depends on the receipt of specimens via Brazilian health surveillance departments and/or notification from civil society. Furthermore, there are few studies on bioecology, taxonomy, description and morphological and ecological aspects of this group. Studies which can be made possible from the establishment of colonies in vivariums with controlled laboratory conditions. However, despite their medical importance, effective methodologies for breeding these caterpillars in the laboratory have not yet been developed. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish complete consecutive generations of Lonomia sp. under laboratory conditions; describe the complete development of the genus Lonomia sp.; and to develop initial tests related to the standardization of creation of this genus under laboratory conditions. For that, caterpillars from the region of Campo Limpo Paulista - SP, Cotia - SP, Tremembé - SP and Sobradinho - DF were used. The specimens were reared under controlled temperature, humidity and photoperiod conditions and distributed equitably between replicates, reared in dry and wet conditions for later comparison. It can be seen that moisture is a crucial factor for the development of the egg and pupal stage and that during the larval stage, offering fresh leaves, clean and free from the effect of flowering and/or insecticides is also important. Furthermore, during the larval and adult stages, some behaviors never reported for Lonomia spp. In all, three complete generations were obtained (Parental - from the larval stage, F1 and F2 complete and F3 to the adult stage with apparently infertile eggs). Thus, it can be concluded that for the first time this number of live and complete generations of Lonomia spp. created under controlled laboratory conditions, a fact never reported in the literature. It can also be seen that the use of a BOD type greenhouse was crucial to obtain this result. However, further studies and tests must be carried out in order to improve what has already been discovered.