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Evaluation of host plant preferences of Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith): Insights into oviposition and feeding behaviour

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.9181
Submitted
29 April 2025
Published
25-06-2025
Versions

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) commonly known as fall armyworm (FAW), is an invasive pest of maize. It is highly polyphagous, with an expanding host range of nearly 353 plant species across more than 76 families. In this study the feeding preference and ovipositional preference of FAW were evaluated on ten host plants, such as rice, maize, black gram, castor, sesame, onion, tomato, cotton, tobacco and cluster bean. The results of feeding preference studies indicated that, both the 2nd and 3rd instar had a much greater preference for maize, with a mean number of 6.60 larvae/leaf (2nd instar) and 7.20 larvae/leaf (3rd instar) settling after 24 hr out of 20 larvae released. This was followed by castor having a mean number of 4.60, 4.40 larvae/leaf for 2nd and 3rd instar,
respectively. Zero feeding preference was observed in cluster bean and rice. In the ovipositional preference studies, maize showed the highest preference, recording a mean of 24.33 egg masses (526.70 eggs/mass) in the no-choice test and 12.33 egg masses (489.00 eggs/mass) in the free-choice test. Black gram recorded the lowest number of egg masses (1.00), with 66.00 eggs/mass in the free-choice test, while castor had the lowest (6.67 egg mass with 64.75 eggs/mass) in the no-choice test.

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