Development and Feeding of Fall Armyworm on <I>Miscanthus</I> × <I>giganteus</I> and Switchgrass

Abstract

Observations of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), larvae infesting plots of Miscanthus x giganteus Greef and Deuter ex Hodkinson and Renvoize prompted laboratory-based tests of survival, development, and feeding preferences on leaf tissue from M. x giganteus and switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L. Survival from hatch to pupation was >70 and 50% for fall armyworms reared on switchgrass and M. x giganteus, respectively, although survival of the S. frugiperda rice strain was significantly greater than the corn strain on both crops. Developmental times from hatch to pupation or adult emergence showed effects of crop and S. frugiperda host strain, but analysis of an interaction revealed developmental times for the rice strain were similar on both crops, whereas corn strain larvae showed delayed development on M. x giganteus relative to switchgrass. Analysis of larval (10 d) and pupal masses showed a similar pattern, with effects of crop and an interaction (at 10 d), but only the mass of corn strain larvae feeding on M. x giganteus was reduced relative to the other crop and strain combinations. In choice tests, neonates of both corn and rice strains showed a strong preference for feeding on young tissues rather than mature leaves of M. x giganteus or switchgrass, but they also clearly favored corn, Zea mays L., leaves over either of the perennial grasses. Results indicate both plants are potential hosts for S. frugiperda, but additional information is needed to understand under which scenarios and to what degree fall armyworms may damage perennial grasses grown for biofuel production.

Categories of Resistance to Greenbug and Yellow Sugarcane Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Three Tetraploid Switchgrass Populations

“…Four additional lepidopterans, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) [9,10,24,30], Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth) [29], Papaipema nebris (Guenée), and Haimbachia albescens Capps [31] have also been recently documented on various populations of switchgrass. Burd et al [6] demonstrated that multiple switchgrass populations are suitable hosts to several important cereal aphids including: Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (greenbug), Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (bird-cherry oat aphid), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) (corn leaf aphid), and Sipha flava (Forbes) (yellow sugarcane aphid).…”

Oviposição, desenvolvimento e reprodução de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) em diferentes hospedeiros de importância econômica

“…Recentes estudos demonstram que S. frugiperda se desenvolve em hospedeiros cultivados e não-cultivados, até então desconhecidos (Sá et al 2009, Prasifka et al 2009, Barros et al 2010. Isso pode ser explicado pela capacidade de S. frugiperda em utilizar diversos hospedeiros (Pogue 2002, Capinera 2008.…”

Miscanthus Genetics and Agronomy for Bioenergy Feedstock

“…Other cereal aphids and aphid-transmitted viruses could also be potential problems in Miscanthus. Finally, in comparison to sugarcane, where more than 1500 insect species have been identified, it appears that few insects have been reported to feed on Miscanthus × giganteus [98].…”

“…In addition, the larvae of armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) have been shown to infest plots of Miscanthus × giganteus [98] along with the aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis [99]. In the United States, plant-parasitic nematodes (Helicotylenchus, Xiphinema, Paratylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Tylenchorhynchus, Criconemella, Longidorus, Heterodera, Paratrichodorus, Hemicriconemoides, Pratylenchus) have been identified as potential pathogens in Miscanthus biofuel crops [100].…”