The cages were sealed with plastic wrap
containing small holes. After copulation (48 h after
the emergence of adults), the insects were sexed and
60 females were placed in each cage, since
oviposition is reduced when females are in the
presence of males. Cotyledon leaves containing
castor bean pollen, Ricinus communis L., at the base
for improved reproduction performance were
offered everyday for feeding and oviposition of the
females. Eggs were collected daily and transferred
to new cages (RONDELLI et al., 2012).
M. persicae was obtained from kale plants,
Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, in the
municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.
They were reared in an incubator at 25 ± 1ºC,
relative humidity of 70 ± 10% and photoperiod of
12 h on 8.0 cm diameter leaf discs of organic kale,
in Petri dishes measuring 9.0 x 1.3 cm (diameter and
height) and lined with filter paper. Every two days
the plates were cleaned 70% alcohol and the filter
paper and leaf discs were exchanged, while the
insects were transferred with the aid of a bristle
brus