Effect of Different Host Plants on Biology of Tobacco Caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

The tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) is present as an economically important and regular polyphagous pests in India and other countries. The knowledge of biology and ecology of an insect pests is a prerequisite for its management. An experiment was conducted on biology of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) on different host plants in laboratory of the Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan. The results revealed that the minimum and maximum incubation period of S. litura was 2.98 and 3.30 days recorded on castor and cauliflower, respectively. The minimum larval and pre pupal period was 12.96 and 1.00 days recorded on castor. The minimum and maximum pupal period were recorded on cotton (8.27 days) and cauliflower (6.44 days), respectively. The adult male and female moth survival maximum larvae reared on cauliflower 5.00 and 6.90 days whereas minimum on castor 3.95 and 6.00 days, respectively. The maximum percent adult emergence was recorded larvae reared on castor (87.50%) followed by cauliflower (85.00%) whereas minimum on cotton (67.50%). The maximum fecundity was recorded on castor (886.25) followed by soybean (870.00). The entire minimum life cycle was recorded on castor (29.05 days) whereas maximum on cotton (36.50days) followed by soybean (34.24 days). It was concluded that castor is best host plant for S. litura.