Development and feeding behaviour of Spodoptera exigua L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on different food plants
2001
Idris, A.B. | Emelia, O. (Kebangsaan Univ., Selangor (Malaysia). School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences)
The development and feeding behaviour of Spodoptera exigua L. (BAW) were studied on different food plants. Five types of plants used were Lycopersicon esculentum var. MT11 (tomato), Allium cepa var. Ascolonium (onion), Abelmoschus esculentus var. MKBe1 (okra), Solanum melongena var. Pintung Long (brinjal) and Capsicum annum var. MC11 (chilli). Development time of S. exigua's larvae differed significantly among treatments. Development time was shorter for larvae fed on onion and okra compared to other treatments. Interestingly, larva fed on brinjal died on first instar stage. Mean of feacal produced per larvae was differed significantly among treatments. There was a significant and positive correlation (r = 0.9576) feacal between produced and development time of larvae. The number of larvae, pupae, adult emergence and eggs lay differed significantly (p less than 0.05) among treatments. Survival rate of larvae and fecundity of adult emerged fed on onion and okra were higher than in other treatments. In choice test, the larval feeding time differed significantly among treatments. Larvae were observed to feed only on onion, okra and chilli. In no choice test, larvae were observed to feed on food plants tested including brinjal and tomato. As in choice test, larval feeding time on okra and onion was longer than on other treatments. Similar study on other plants should be conducted to find more plants that could negatively affect development and feeding behaviour of S. exigua. Further study on the effect of brinjal on egg laying behaviour of S. exigua adults could confirm the possible use of the plant to be intercroped with other crops that is preferred by S. exigua.
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