Oviposition Behaviour of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Different Host Plants

The selective ovipositional behaviour of Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda was studied at Centre for Agro Climatic Studies under field and laboratory conditions through cage experiments to provide the basis for its oviposition preference on different crops to find an ecological solution for its management. Oviposition preference of S. frugiperda was evaluated under free choice and no choice conditions with maize, sorghum, groundnut, cotton, cabbage, chickpea and tomato. The results of the experiment revealed that the number of eggs laid by the FAW on maize (208.7 ± 7.00) was high when compared to sorghum (110.3 ± 10.0) under filed conditions. But, in case of laboratory conditions under no choice test females preferred to oviposit on maize, sorghum, groundnut, cotton and cabbage except on chickpea and tomato. Egg masses per plant was maximum on maize in both field and laboratory conditions followed by sorghum. Information of hierarchies of S. frugiperda host plant oviposition preference by females will be useful in developing strategies for the management of this pest.