studies on comparative biology growth and development of fall armyworm spodoptera frugiperda j e smith

Abstract

Studies on the comparative biology, growth and development of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) were undertaken in the Centre for Agro climatic studies and Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during 2020-2022.Comparative biology was studied on different hosts (maize, sorghum, groundnut, cotton, cabbage tomato and chickpea) revealed that the life span of S. frugiperda recorded was lowest on groundnut followed by maize. The oviposition preference studies conducted under free choice and no choice in both filed and laboratory conditions showed that S. frugiperda females preferred maize compared to other hosts in both choice and no choice situations. Similarly feeding preference studied with first and third instar larvae showed prime preference to maize followed by sorghum and groundnut and least preference to tomato and chickpea. newlineBiochemical estimation was carried out to reason out for the same.it revealed that the protein and total soluble sugars content of hosts had positive effect on growth and development of which resulted in increased larval and pupal weight in case of maize and groundnut followed by sorghum. However, phenols, tannins and flavonoids showed significant negative effect on growth and development particularly in cotton. newlineThe reproductive behavior of fall armyworm in terms of emergence of adults moths showed moth of the adults emerged during scotophase than photophase hours and highest emergence was recorded at 10.0 pm.The calling behaviour studies revealed that most of the females called during sixth hour of scotophase and it was age dependent.Mating behaviour studies revealed most of the copulation happened during 6th hour of scotophase and mating was highest in moths of three, four and five day old moths. newlineStudy on thermal degree days conducted using five different temperature revealed that the temperatures below and above 32 °Cwere not suitable for growth and development. However, temperature ranging from 26-30°Cwas found to be favorab