Population Growth and Life Table Study of a Generalist Semilooper, Anomis sabulifera, Guenée 1852 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) on two Brassicaceae and two Malvaceae Plants

The generalist semilooper pest, Anomis sabulifera, Guenée 1852 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is one of the major pests of different economic crops throughout the world. Basic information on insect pest population growth is necessary before deciding any strategy to combat with the pest. The stage-specific life table and population growth of A. sabulifera on two Brassicaceous plants i.e., Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and two Malvaceous plants i.e., Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) and China rose (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) were observed during their growing season in 2023-2025. Phytochemicals guided host preference (Indian mustard> Oilseed rape> Tossa jute> China rose) of the generalist semilooper, A. sabulifera represent a clear picture through population growth and developmental pattern. It also provides information about the vulnerability of developmental stages of A. sabulifera on the selected host plants. This study had suggested the use of multi-trap cropping by using the most preferred crops (Indian mustard> Oilseed rape) in a defined pattern with Tossa jute and or China rose as main crop which will obviously lead to less infestation of A. sabulifera or other such pests in the field than their sole cropping. Such study will also inform about the susceptibility and or severity of host cultivars towards A. sabulifera for their judicious management by using defined trap cropping system with higher production to promote IPM of such crops in near future.