Ovipositional preferences of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, on different host plants under laboratory conditions

Agha Mushtaque Ahmed, Ali Zachi Abdulqadeer Alhilfi, Waheed Ali Panhwar, Fahad Nazir Khoso, Muhammad Ibhrahim Kubar, Aamir Mustafa Gadahi

Abstract


The interaction between insects and their host plants is essential for understanding successful oviposition, particularly for polyphagous insects. The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a significant pest affecting over 300 host plant species. In light of its impact, an experiment was conducted to examine FAW oviposition on Brassica rapa L., B. oleracea var. capitata, and Zea mays L. Results from this study revealed a notable influence of host plant species on FAW oviposition preferences. The highest egg count (675 ± 32.4 eggs) was recorded on maize, specifically on the maize strain of FAW. In choice experiments, the FAW maize strain showed a strong preference for ovipositing on maize. Interestingly, neither the mustard strain (139 ± 37.3 eggs) nor the cabbage strain (37.0 ± 4.6 eggs) laid the highest number of eggs on their respective host plants. Among reproductive parameters, the primary difference observed was in the oviposition period. For adult diets, the highest fecundity, with 1188 ± 64.84 eggs, was achieved with a honey + protein solution diet. These findings suggest that adult diet has a substantial impact on oviposition period and can be beneficial for mass-rearing FAW in laboratory settings. In conclusion, the results indicate that FAW in Pakistan still shows a strong preference for maize and has not adapted to other host plants as primary options. This preference for maize warrants focused pest management strategies to keep FAW populations below threshold levels and minimize crop damage.

Keywords


Oviposition preference, Fall armyworm, Host plant selection, Laboratory bioassay, Reproductive performance

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ahmad, M., Arif, M.I., Ahmad, M., 2007. Occurrence of insecticide resistance in field popuslations of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Pakistan. Crop Protection 26(6), 809-817.

Andorf, C., Beavis, W.D., Hufford, M., Smith, S., Suza, W.P., Wang, K., Woodhouse, M., Yu, J. Lübberstedt, T., 2019. Technological advances in maize breeding: past, present and future. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 132, 817-849.

Azidah, A.A., Sofian-Azirun, M., 2006. Some aspects on oviposition behaviour of Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Entomology 3(3), 241-247.

Bhatti, Z., Ahmed, A.M., Khatri, I., Rattar, Q., Rajput, S., Tofique, M., Younas, H., 2021. First report of morphometric identification of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) an invasive pest of maize in Southern Sindh, Pakistan. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology 1, 3-8.

Brévault, T., Ndiaye, A., Badiane, D., Bal, A.B., Sembène, M., Silvie, P., Haran, J., 2018. First records of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Senegal. Entomologia Generalis (3), 129–142.

Bueno, R.C.O.D.F., Carneiro, T.R., Bueno, A.D.F., Pratissoli, D., Fernandes, O.A., Vieira, S.S., 2010. Parasitism capacity of Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 53, 133-139.

Carrasco, D., Larsson, M. C., Anderson, P., 2015. Insect host plant selection in complex environments. Current Opinion in Insect Science 8, 1-7.

Claridge, M.F., Wilson, M.R., 1978. Oviposition behaviour as an ecological factor in woodland canopy leafhoppers. Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 24(3), 301-309.

Cock, M.J., Beseh, P.K., Buddie, A.G., Cafá, G., Crozier, J., 2017. Molecular methods to detect Spodoptera frugiperda in Ghana, and implications for monitoring the spread of invasive species in developing countries. Scientific Report. 7, 4103.

Dahanukar, A., Hallem, E.A., Carlson, J.R., 2005. Insect chemoreception. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 15, 423-430.

FAO, 2018. Integrated management of the fall armyworm on maize: A guide for farmer field schools in Africa. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Rome.

FAO, 2019a. Briefing note on FAO Actions on Fall Armyworm. 2(9). http://www.fao.org/fall-armyworm/en

FAO, 2019b. Fall armyworm (FAW); Q and A. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7471e.pdf

FAO, 2020. Integrated management of the fall armyworm on maize. a guide for farmer field schools in Africa. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Rome.

Gamage, A., Liyanapathiranage, A., Manamperi, A., Gunathilake, C., Mani, S., Merah O., Madhujith, T., 2022. Applications of starch biopolymers for a sustainable modern agriculture. Sustainable Agriculture 14, 6085.

Garvey, M.A., Creighton, J.C., Kaplan, I., 2020. Tritrophic interactions reinforce a negative preference-performance relationship in the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. Ecological Entomology 45, 783-794.

Goergen, G., Kumar, P.L., Sankung, S.B., Togola, A., Tamò, M., 2016. First report of outbreaks of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), a new alien invasive pest in West and Central Africa. PloS One 11(10), 1-5.

Gutiérrez-Moreno, R., Mota-Sanchez, D., Blanco, C.A., Whalon, M.E., Terán-Santofimio, H., Rodriguez-Maciel, J.C., DiFonzo, C., 2019. Field-evolved resistance of the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to synthetic insecticides in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Journal of Economic Entomology 112(2), 792-802.

He, L.M., Zhao, S.Y., Gao, X.W., Wu, K.M., 2021. Ovipositional responses of Spodoptera frugiperda on host plants provide a basis for using Bt-transgenic maize as trap crop in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 20(3), 804-814.

Jadeja, S., Tenhumberg, B., 2017. Phytophagous insect oviposition shifts in response to probability of flower abortion owing to the presence of basal fruits. Ecology and Evolution 7(21), 8770-8779.

Jaliya, M.M., Falaki, A.M., Mahmud, M., Sani, Y.A., 2008. Effect of sowing date and NPK fertilizer rate on yield and yield components of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.). ARPN Journal of Agriculture Biological Science 3(2), 23-29.

Javed, H., Mukhtar, T., Javed, K., Mohsin, A., 2017. Management of eggplant shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis guenee) by integrating different non-chemical approaches. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 54(1), 65-70.

Kaul, J., Jain, K., Olakh, D., 2019. An overview on role of yellow maize in food, feed and nutrition security. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 8, 3037-3048.

Kenis, M., Benelli, G., Biondi, A., Calatayud, P., Day, R., Desneux, N., Harrison, R., Kriticos, D., Rwomushana, I., Van Den Berg, J., 2022. Invasiveness, biology, ecology, and management of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Entomologia Generalis 43(2), 187-241.

Koutroumpa, F.A., Monsempes, C., François, M.C., Severac, D., Montagné, N., Meslin, C., Jacquin-Joly, E., 2021. Description of chemosensory genes in unexplored tissues of the moth Spodoptera littoralis. Frontier Ecological Evolution 9, 678277.

Kumar, P., Kumari, K., Sharma, S.K., Singh, S.N., 2021. Efficacy of bio-pesticides against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda under laboratory condition. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 9(2), 1282-1284.

McClay, A.S., Hughes, R.B., 2007. Temperature and host-plant effects on development and population growth of Mecinus janthinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent for invasive Linaria spp. Biological Control 40(3), 405-410.

Montezano, D.G., Sosa-Gómez, D.R., Specht, A., Roque-Specht, V.F., Sousa-Silva, J.C., Paula-Moraes, S.D., Hunt, T.E., 2018. Host plants of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Americas. African Entomology 26(2), 286-300.

Muhammad, W., Javed, H., Ahmad, M., Mukhtar, T., 2021a. Economical impact of some selected cultural practices on population build-up of Leucinodes orbonalis in brinjal crop. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 30(06B), 7346-7354.

Muhammad, W., Javed, H., Ahmad, M., Mukhtar, T., 2021b. Optimizing transplanting dates for the management of brinjal shoot and fruit borer and better crop yield under field conditions. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 53(3), 967-973.

Nabeel, M., Javed, H., Mukhtar, T., 2018. Occurrence of Chilo partellus on maize in major maize growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 50(1), 317-323.

Nagoshi, R.N., Goergen, G., Tounou, K.A., Agboka, K., Koffi, D., Meagher, R.L., 2018. Analysis of strain distribution, migratory potential, and invasion history of fall armyworm populations in northern Sub-Saharan Africa. Science Report 8, 2710.

Naz, S., Fatima, Z., Iqbal, P., Khan, A., Zakir, I., Noreen, S., Younis, H., Abbas, G., Ahmad S., 2019. Agronomic crops: Types and uses. In Agronomic Crops 1-18.

Pogue, M.G., 2002. A world revision of the genus Spodoptera Guenée: (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); American Entomological Society: Philadelphia, PA, USA, 43.

Prasanna, B., Huesing, J., Eddy, R., Peschke, V., 2018. Fall Armyworm in Africa: A Guide for Integrated Pest Management; USAID; CIMMYT: Mexico City, Mexico, 2018.

Saeed, R., Sayyed, A.H., Shad, S.A., Zaka, S.M., 2010. Effect of different host plants on the fitness of diamond-back moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Crop Protection 29(2), 178-82.

Schoonhoven, L.M., Loon, J.J.A., Dicke, M., 2005. Insect-plant biology, 2nd Edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Seada, M.A., Ignell, R., Anderson, P., 2016. Morphology and distribution of ovipositor sensilla of female cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and evidence for gustatory function. Entomological Science 19 (1), 9-19.

Seerat, W., Akram, A., Qureshi, R., Yaseen, G., Mukhtar, T., Hanif N.Q., 2022. Light and scanning electron microscopic characterization of aflatoxins producing Aspergillus flavus in the maize crop. Microscopy Research and Technique 85(8), 2894-2903. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24139

Simmons, A.M., Lynch, R.E., 1990. Egg production and adult longevity of Spodoptera frugiperda, Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on selected adult diets. Florida Entomologist 1, 665-671.

Singer, M.S., Carrière, Y., Theuring, C., Hartmann, T., 2004. Disentangling food quality from resistance against parasitoids: diet choice by a generalist caterpillar. American Naturalist 164, 423-429.

Sisay, B., Sevgan, S., Weldon, C. W., Krüger, K., Torto, B., Tamiru, A., 2023. Responses of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) to different host plants: Implications for its management strategy. Pest Management Science 79(2), 845-856.

Städler, E., Reifenrath, K., 2009. Glucosinolates on the leaf surface perceived by insect herbivores: review of ambiguous results and new investigations. Phytochemical Review 8(1), 207-225.

Thompson, J.N., 1988. Evolutionary ecology of the relationship between oviposition preference and performance of offspring in phytophagous insects. Entomologia Experimentalis Applicata 47(1), 3-14.

Tuan, S.J., Li, N.J., Yeh, C.C., Tang, L.C., Chi, H., 2014. Effects of green manure cover crops on Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations. Journal of Economic Entomology 107(3), 897-905.

Videla, M., Valladares, G.R., Salvo, A., 2012. Choosing between good and better: optimal oviposition drives host plant selection when parents and offspring agree on best resources. Oecologia 169, 743751.

Yamamoto. R.T., Jenkins, R.Y., McClusky, R.K. 1969. Factors determining the selection of plants for oviposition by the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. Entomologia Experimentalis Applicata 12 (5), 504-508.

Zhu, J.H., Zhang, F.P., Ren, H., 2005. Development and nutrition of Prodenia litura on four food plants. Biology Entomological Knowledge 42(6), 643-646.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.33804/pp.008.04.5048

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.