Bionomics of fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) on artificial diet

A laboratory experiment was conducted at the Department of Entomology, PJTSAU, Hyderabad on biology and morphometrics of Spodoptera furgiperda (H E Smith) on artificial diet during 2018. The egg masses were collected from maize at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad and kept in laboratory for incubation. The eggs were dome shaped, measuring 0.50 mm in dia, the base was flattened and the eggs curved upward to a broadly rounded point at the apex. Eggs hatched within 3 days. The first instar larvae were shifted on to artificial diet consisting of chickpea and corn flour as its main ingredients. The larvae had six instars, and completed their development within 15 days. Pupa was reddish brown, measuring 14.83 x 4.28 mm, with a duration of 8 to 9 days. After emergence of adults, sex differentiation was done and kept for egg laying in jars containing 10% honey. The adult moths had wingspan of 31.54 and 34 mm in male and female, and body length was 16 and 18 mm, respectively. Adult longevity is about 9 ± 0.52 days, and fecundity was 1513 eggs.