Biological Aspects of the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) on different Host Plants

Abstract

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has become one of the factors threatening the productivity of agricultural crops worldwide. In the Egyptian fields, it became one of the most dangerous pests that attack maize at the country level. In northern Egypt, the larvae were found feeding on plant species such as corn, okra, mallow, amaranth, also the larvae were found feeding on the fruits of tomato and pepper plants and table beets. Therefore, it was bred in a laboratory on these plants and fruits, which showed the ability to survive in all these plant families with rates 90 ,80,76.7, 83.3 ,70,63.3 and 10%. The eggs incubation period was similar in all plants with ranged 2.5-3.0 days. Larval duration recorded 13.0±1.0,15.0±1.0,16.0 ±0.5 ,13.0 ±1.0,19.0±1.0, 19.5±0.0 and 18 ±0.0 days. pupal duration found to be similar in all host plant with range 6.0±0.6 to 6.3±0.6 days. Adults longevity exhibited a significant difference between maize, okra, amaranth, mallow with 10.5±0.13 day and that on tomato, pepper and table beet with 8.0±1.0, 6.0±1.0 and 4.0±05 days, respectively. The female preoviposition period lasted 2.0±0.5 day in all plant species ,also Oviposition period lasted 5.0±0.5 day ,and post oviposition period lasted 2.00±0.0 days .In egg laying choice test females laid eggs on maize and amaranth plants, meanwhile in no-choice test, females laid eggs on all plants .