Biology and biometric characteristics of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reared on different host plants with regard to diet

Abstract

BACKGROUND The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), native to the Americas, is a new invasive pest that was reported in India for the first time in May 2018. Being polyphagous, FAW can infest several different hosts and increase its population all year round. In this context, the present study was conducted under laboratory conditions to evaluate the biological parameters of FAW on four different hosts, Zea mays (maize), Gossypium hirsutum (cotton), Ricinus communis (castor) and Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (cauliflower), and a semi‐synthetic diet. RESULTS The shortest life cycle of 32.8 ± 0.52 days in males and 34.1 ± 0.43 days in females was observed on maize. Semi‐synthetic diet was superior in terms of higher mean fecundity (1324.6 ± 61.21 eggs), larval weight (503 ± 0.02 mg), pupal weight (263 ± 0.01 mg) and adult female weight (128 ± 0.0 mg) compared with natural hosts. Cotton was the least preferred host with a longer life cycle of 49.5 ± 0.50 days. Head capsule width and length were measured and the growth rate was validated using Dyar's rule. The mean width and length of the head capsule of first‐instar larvae of FAW on different hosts was 0.35 ± 0.00 mm. The maximum width (2.76 ± 0.03 mm) and length (2.31 ± 0.03 mm) were observed in sixth‐instar larvae grown on diet. CONCLUSION The results of this study will be instrumental in understanding and formulating management strategies for FAW.

Population Growth of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Fed on Cereal and Pulse Host Plants Cultivated in Yunnan Province, China

“…Compared to the other host plants, maize and faba beans had longer oviposition periods and higher fecundities, which was consistent with earlier research on these two hosts [ 33 ]. Additionally, S. frugiperda fed on maize exhibited shorter T and increased r , λ, and R o , indicating that maize is a suitable food source for S. frugiperda survival, development, and fecundity, which is consistent with earlier research from [ 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Insecticidal efficacy and possibility of Combretum trifoliatum Vent. (Myrtales: Combretaceae) extracts in controlling Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

“…It has infested and seriously damaged a variety of plants, causing economic losses. 41 To control this pest, we are concerned about biological traits, such as a short life cycle, high fecundity, and high resistance to a range of insecticides. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of Combretum trifoliatum extracts for the development of an insect pest control strategy by assessing the toxicity of extract throughout the entire life-cycle of S. frugiperda.…”

Effect of Different Host Plants on the Diversity of Gut Bacterial Communities of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797)

“…As a notorious polyphagous pest, S. frugiperda can feed on more than 350 plant species belonging to 76 plant families, and maize is one of the main host plants of S. frugiperda [ 27 ]. Under laboratory conditions, S. frugiperda could complete the generation cycle on many common crops, such as cotton, castor, cauliflower, oilseed rape, soybean, and sunflower [ 28 , 29 ]. In addition, our previous studies found that S. frugiperda could complete life cycles on Lonicera japonica Thunb and Dioscorea oppositifolia Turczaninow, two traditional Chinese medicines cultivated in China [ 30 ].…”