Feeding Preferences, Growth Patterns and Reproductive Characteristics of Fall Armyworm (<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>) Indicate the Potential of <i>Ficus</i> Tree as New Host Plant
The fall armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, is a serious invasive pest of the family Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) that poses a significant threat to global crop production, with poaceae crops being particularly affected. Previous studies have indicated that, as a voracious insect, the fa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/11/1187 |
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| Summary: | The fall armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, is a serious invasive pest of the family Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) that poses a significant threat to global crop production, with poaceae crops being particularly affected. Previous studies have indicated that, as a voracious insect, the fall armyworm possesses the potential for food source diversification. However, to date, limited research has been conducted on whether plants other than maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) and rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) can serve as potential food resources for the pest. In Yunnan Province, China, the distribution ranges of the fall armyworm and <i>Ficus</i> plants show a significant degree of overlap. <i>Ficus</i> species, including the widely distributed <i>Ficus microcarpa</i> L. f., commonly grow within or near cornfields. Our previous field studies have documented instances of fall armyworms in cornfields exhibiting feeding behavior on <i>F. microcarpa</i>. In this study, maize and <i>F. microcarpa</i> were selected as food resources for fall armyworms to compare larval feeding preferences, development time, survival rate, and reproductive capacity. The results demonstrated that when both maize and <i>F. microcarpa</i> were available simultaneously, fall armyworm larvae consumed both plant species. Further analysis revealed that larvae feeding on <i>F. microcarpa</i> exhibited a significantly longer developmental period from the third stage to pupation (14.08 ± 0.44 d) compared to those feeding on maize (9.21 ± 0.14 d). Moreover, the pupae size, pupae weight, and egg count were reduced by approximately 10%, 30%, and 30%, respectively, in larvae that fed on <i>F. microcarpa</i>. Despite these physiological challenges, our research findings indicated that, despite <i>F. microcarpa</i> not being the primary food source for fall armyworms under natural conditions, fall armyworms feeding on <i>F. microcarpa</i> were still capable of completing the life cycle from the third instar to the second generation when relying solely on <i>F. microcarpa</i>. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen the observation and monitoring of fall armyworm populations feeding on <i>F. microcarpa</i> and implement targeted control strategies according to specific circumstances, thereby preventing <i>F. microcarpa</i> from acting as a potential host. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-0472 |