A short-term impact of enriched CO2 [eCO2] on select growth performance of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its host plant Gossypium barbadense L. (Malvaceae)

Natural interactions between herbivorous insect pests and their host plants are expected to be altered significantly as atmospheric CO2 concentrations (aCO2) continue to rise according to climate change scenario. The possible effect of enriched CO2 (eCO2) environments on these interactions is under attention. To better understand such effects on select insect growth parameters; early (3rd) and penultimate (6th) instar larvae of the Cotton Leaf Worm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), reared on the cotton plant leaves Gossypium barbadense L. (Malvacae) grown under either ambient (aCO2 = 350 ppm) or enriched (eCO2 = 700 ppm) atmospheres were investigated.