ABSTRACT
The objective of this work was to know the relationship among environmental factors and the behavior of Hedypathes betulinus (Klug, 1825) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in erva-mate, being the observations accomplished in the municipal districts of Iló polis(RS) and Catanduvas (SC). The eight year old sampled crops were homogeneous, spacing of 1.5m x 2.0m and area of 15 and 20ha, respectively. It was accomplished six days of observations in Iló polis (RS), in February, 2001, and three days in Catanduvas (SC) in March, 2001, made in hour by hour, along the day. The observed environmental factors were: temperature (°C), air relative humidity (%), wind speed (m/s) and light intensity (Klux), through a thermohigraph and digital anemometer, and a luximeter. With relationship to the behavioral aspects, they were observed: mating (C), oviposition (P), feeding act (A), male keeping the female (MGF), alone insect (PS) and insect in movement (EM). The results were interpreted through the pathy analysis, where the air relative humidity, followed by the speed of the wind speed, light intensity and temperature, in decreasing order, they interacted with the several behavior aspects of Hedypathes betulinus.
Key words:
Ilex paraguariensis; stem borer of erva-mate; pathy analysis