Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Development and Damage Potential as Affected by Inherited Sterility and Host Plant Resistance

Abstract

Male and female adults of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda . (J. E. Smith), were exposed to a substerilizing dose (10 krads) of radiation, and their progeny were reared on corn, Zea mays L., foliage and meridic diets with varying concentrations of resistant corn silk. Mean leaf damage ratings for all corn entries were higher for plants infested with larvae from nonirradiated adults than for plants infested with larvae from irradiated males crossed with normal females. However, the rate of larval establishment on foliage of all corn entries was not affected by the larval treatment. Larvae from irradiated males crossed with normal females were equally competitive with normal larvae in all measured parameters of laboratory bioassays. Larvae from irradiated females also were competitive with normal larvae except in early larval development and time to adult eclosion. The results suggest that host plant resistance and inherited sterility would be compatible strategies for managing populations of the fall armyworm.