Selectivity of insecticides on Chrysoperla externa in coffee crops

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a globally significant pest, causing considerable economic damage, particularly in maize crops. Botanical derivatives present promising alternative for its management. This study evaluated the insecticidas activity of tagitin C-enriched extract obtained from Tithonia diversifolia leaf trichomes using dichloromethane as the extraction solvent by: (i) determining the most susceptible larval stage of S. frugiperda, (ii) assessing its toxicity to larvae, (iii) evaluating pest mortality on treated maize plants, and (iv) determining phytotoxicity to the crop.