BIOLOGY AND GROWTH INDEX OF FALL ARMY ARMYWORM, Spodoptera frugiperda (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) REARED ON DIFFERENT HOST PLANTS

The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a polyphagous pest that can attack numerous hosts and causes high damage. The present work was conducted at Bollworms Research Department under laboratory condition of (26 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 5 % RH) to study the possibility of rearing FAW on three different hosts, [Pisum Sativum (Pea), Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) and Ricinus communis (Castor)] and evaluate its biological parameters and growth index. Obtained results revealed that Pea was the best in rearing FAW causing the lowest larval mortality (13.33%) and the fastest developmental time (30.33 days/total immature), followed by Lettuce (14.93% larval mortality and 32.37 days/total immature), compared to castor that produced the highest larval mortality percent (16.67%) with the slowest duration (33.29 days). In addition, rearing FAW produced a higher fecundity (880.67eggs/female) which decreased significantly (663.38 and 616 eggs/female) for Lettuce and castor, respectively. The growth and fitness index were highest on pea recorded 4.41 and 0.55 respectively, followed by Lettuce (3.98 and 0.47) while they were 3.74 and 0.42) for Castor host, respectively. Thus, Pea appears to be the most favorable host plant in rearing S. frugiperda compared to the other two hosts.