A.B. Idris
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Science, Faculty of Science and Technology University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D. E., Malaysia
O. Emelia
School of Environmental and Natural Resource Science, Faculty of Science and Technology University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D. E., Malaysia
ABSTRACT
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. exiguas 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<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. Futher 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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How to cite this article
A.B. Idris and O. Emelia, 2001. Development and Feeding Behaviour of Spodoptera exigua L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on
Different Food Plants. Journal of Biological Sciences, 1: 1161-1164.
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2001.1161.1164
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2001.1161.1164
DOI: 10.3923/jbs.2001.1161.1164
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jbs.2001.1161.1164