The bioassay was carried out using a completely randomized
design with eight treatments and 40 replicates. To constitute the
experimental unit, B. pilosa stems were offered to adults of
O. insidiosus for 24 h period. After this time, the eggs present in
stems were counted and the stems that had more of an egg, had
unfeasible eggs with the help of entomological pin, leaving only
one egg per stem. Therefore each experimental unit consisted of
one egg of O. insidiosus aged up to 24 h. For treatment application,
these B. pilosa stems (2 cm) were immersed in aqueous solutions
of the chemical products for 5 s. The basal ends of the stems were
wrapped in moistened cotton wicks to prevent desiccation. Water
was used as the control treatment. These stems were then placed
in individual Petri dishes and covered with perforated PVC film.
Egg viability, duration of the embryonic period, survival of nymphs,
and duration of the nymphal period were assessed daily. Soon after
hatching, the nymphs were transferred to new Petri dishes
(5 cm diameter), thus avoiding the contact of these nymphs with
B. pilosa stem. Eggs in which the operculum had not opened by
the end of the 10th day were considered unviable. The nymphs
were fed with eggs of A. kuehniella every 48 h, and moistened cotton
wicks were placed in the Petri dishes as a source of moisture.