Biology of Tobacco Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura Fabricius) on Castor Plant

The present study highlights the biology of Tobacco Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura Fabricius) on Castor Plant. The host plant quality is a key determinant of the fecundity of herbivorous insects; it also affects insect reproductive strategies, egg size and quality, the allocation of resources to eggs, and the choice of oviposition sites. The present study was conducted in 2024 in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Madhav University, Pindwara, Sirohi (Rajasthan). To study the biology of Spodoptera litura, it was taken up under laboratory conditions. The host preference was investigated based on observations recorded on different developmental stages of S. litura. The effects of host plant viz., castor. The development of this insect was studied to determine the most preferred host. It was assessed based on the incubation period, larval period, pre-pupal period, pupal period, adult emergence, adult longevity, fecundity, incubation period, and total life span from the larvae reared on castor leaves. By considering all the criteria for comparing the relative effect of castor plants on the biology of S. litura, it can be concluded that castor was the most preferred host plant against S. litura.