Effects of Four Host Plants on Biology and Food Utilization of the Cutworm,Spodoptera litura

Abstract

Effects of four host plants, tobacco, Chinese cabbage, cowpea and sweet potato, on larval and pupal development and survival, and longevity and fecundity of adults of Spodoptera litura (F) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were studied under laboratory conditions (26° C, 60–80% RH), as was the utilization of the four host plants and adaptation on tobacco. All of the biological parameters included in the study were affected by the host plants. In a choice test, S. litura females oviposited most on Chinese cabbage, least on tobacco, and intermediate on cowpea and sweet potato. S. litura larvae developed differently on the four host plants, from shortest to longest in the following order: Chinese cabbage, cowpea, sweet potato, and tobacco. Pupal development was shorter on cowpea than on the other three host plants, and males generally developed longer than females. More females than males were found among emerged adults, and male adults lived 1–2 d longer than females. Larvae survived best on cowpea (81.6%), followed by Chinese cabbage (75.5%), then sweet potato (66.1%), and worst on tobacco (49.2%). Pupal survival rates were relatively high (91.4 – 95.9%) in all four host plant treatments, although that on sweet potato was lower than those on the other three host plants. Pupal weights on tobacco and sweet potato were similar, but both were lower than those on Chinese cabbage and cowpea. Generally, male pupae weighed less than female pupae. Numbers of eggs oviposited by female S. litura were highest on sweet potato, followed by those on cowpea, Chinese cabbage, and lowest on tobacco. Relative food consumption rate was highest on sweet potato, followed by that on cowpea, Chinese cabbage, and lowest on tobacco. In contrast, S. litura larvae that fed on tobacco had higher efficiency of conversion of digested food, highest efficiency of conversion of ingested food, and lowest approximate digestibility as compared with larvae that fed on other host plants. The potential causes for S. litura outbreaks on tobacco are discussed.

Immature stages of Spodoptera albula (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Developmental parameters and host plants

“…This demonstrates that this species, like other representatives of Spodoptera (i.e. Bavaresco et al 2004, Santos et al 2005, Azidah and Sofian-Azirun 2006, Barros et al 2010, Saeed et al 2010, Xue et al 2010, Farahani et al 2011) is adaptable to laboratory conditions. Most of the larvae (87.226%) developed during six instars and the remainder (12.774%) for seven instars.…”

Effect of rearing season, host plants and their interaction on economical traits of tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury- an overview

“…Hamilton and Lechowicz (1991) conducted outdoor rearing of gypsy moth larvae under natural temperature and photoperiod regimes on red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh). Xue et al (2009) studied the effects of different host plants on larval and pupal development and survival, and longevity and fecundity of adults of Spodoptera litura and found that all of the biological parameters were significantly affected by the host plants. Shahout et al (2011) assessed the influence and mechanism of different host plants on the growth, development and, fecundity of reproductive system of common cutworm Spodoptera litura.…”

“…Rath et al (1997) Xue et al (2009) reported that larval food directly affects size and weight of the pupae of Spodoptera litura and the female pupae are always heavier than male pupae.…”

“…Earlier studies on utilization of food by insects were not clearly described because several indices were used to report more or less the same measurement in different names (Hopkins, 1912;Evans and Goodliffe, 1939; Crowell, 1941;Smith, 1959;Mathur, 1967;Saxena, 1969). Study of the effects of host plants on the biology of insects is important in understanding the host suitability under different environmental condition (Xue et al, 2009). First, Thangavelu (1992 emphasised the need for conservation of wild sericigenous insects in Himalayan states of India.…”

Membrane stability and methaemoglobin content of human erythrocytes incubated in aqueous leaf extract of Nicotiana tabacum product

“…Accordingly, there are reports that researchers and bioengineering entrepreneurs of Developed Countries have already begun the use N. tabacum as hosts for bioengineering processes. [9][10][11][12][13] Likewise, the prospect of utilizing the plant product as biological pesticides in the form of nicotine tartrate, [14][15][16][17] and medicinal preparations/decoction have shown promising prospects. [18,19] Although there are concerns about the use of N. tabacum extracts as therapeutic agents because of the addictive tendency and harmful effects of nicotine content, reports have shown that salt extract of N. tabacum leaves are devoid of nicotine.…”