Growth and Development of Fall Army Worm Spodoptera Frugiperda on Cereals

Abstract

This laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the growth and development of fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) on four cereal host plants. It was observed that the significantly least total lifecycle duration of male was on maize (27.61± 0.60 days) followed by pearl millet (30.85± 0.46 days), sorghum (31.31± 0.77 days). It was maximum on sugarcane (34.36± 0.80 days). As regards female S. frugiperda, the least was on maize (29.78± 0.66 days) followed by sorghum (32.52± 0.44 days), pearl millet (33.34± 0.52 days) and maximum on sugarcane (36.04± 0.51 days). Likewise maximum fecundity was observed on maize (436.44± 22.44) followed by sugarcane (248.08± 15.54), pearl millet (139.30± 13.02) and the least was on sorghum (106.44± 11.18). Male to female sex ratio was highest in sorghum (1:1.31) followed by pear millet (1:1.26), maize (1:1.20) and the least on sugarcane (1:1.19).