The development of hosts that are resistant and evaluation of botanical extracts to H. armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is crucial for sustainable management, yet very limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was done to identify alternative methods to insecticide control through host consumption study and botanical extracts. The performance of third-fifth larval stages of H. armigera on three host plant varieties including chickpea, tomato and faba bean and botanical extracts against the third larval instars and oviposition deterrence was studied under laboratory condition (22˚C ± 2˚C, 55% ± 5% RH, 12:12 L: D photoperiod). Significant differences were found in the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI%) (F = 80.06; df = 6, 2; p < 0.05) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD%) (F = 175.91; df = 6, 2; p < 0.05) values of H. armigera reared on the three host plant varieties of the whole larval instars. The minimum relative consumption rate (RCR) (11.271 ± 0.328) and maximum approximate digestibility (AD) (177.9 ± 1.928) values of the whole larval instars were on Dagaga and Koshari, respectively. The values of relative growth rate (RGR), ECI% and ECD% of the whole larval instars were highest on chickpea varieties and lowest on tomato Koshari. Among chickpea varieties, Habru was relatively resistant to larval instars of H. armigera. Botanical extracts at 50% neem oil (NO), 5% birbira seed extract (BSE) and 5% neem seed extract (NSE) (18.4%
), however, non-significant difference existed among them in Guder, whereas the highest was observed in weedy check (170.93, 382.13 gm -2 ) in Guder and Ambo, respectively. Moreover, those treatments also significantly increased the yield and yield component of maize in both locations.
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