ABSTRACT
The velvetbean Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner, 1818), one of the main pests that attack the soy crop has a biological control in the form of the nucleopolyhedrovirus Baculovirus anticarsia (AgMNPV), widely used by the Brazilian agriculturists in the last 3 decades. In light of the current economic importance of the soybean crop for Brazil and considering the damages caused by the velvetbean caterpillar, this review was aimed at autlining the main aspects of the biology and the defense mechanisms of this insect, as well as its biocontrol by AgMNPV.
KEY WORDS:
Hemocytes; Anticarsia gemmatalis; Baculovirus anticarsia; biological control.