Insect pests destroy about 18% of crop production each year and transmit disease agents (Oerke & Dehn, 2004). Beetles (order Coleoptera) are the largest and most diverse group of eukaryotes. They contain species of harvest pests that produce major losses around the world (Wang et al., 2007). Some examples of coleopteran pests follow: Dectes texanus [Coleoptera (order): Cerambycidae (family)], attacks soybeans; Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a biological problem of stored products; Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), an entomological problem of coffee crops; and Premnotrypes vorax (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a potato pest in South America (Abdelghany et al., 2010; Tindall et al., 2010; Lopez-Pazos et al., 2009b; Pai & Bernasconi, 2008; Damon, 2000). Lepidopteran species constitute an important group of harmful harvest pests that affect commercial agriculture. Among them are the following: the cotton bollworms, Helicoverpa armigera and H. zea (both Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); Tecia solanivora (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a pest in potato crops of the Americas; Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), of great importance in cruciferous crops; and the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which causes losses in corn, cotton and rice (Keszthelyi et al., 2011; Du et al., 2011; Chagas et al., 2010; Suckling & Brockerhoff, 2010; Bosa et al., 2006; Monnerat et al., 2006).