EFFECTS OF HOST PLANT ON SOME ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF COTTON LEAFWORM

Abstract

Results of the experiments about the effects of the host plant on some aspects of reproductive potential for the cotton leafworm indicated that the incubation period of egg of Spodoptera littoralis were 4.33 and 5.67 days on tomato and eggplants respectively. Fertility rates were 96% on tomato, which was significantly different from 87.67% when larvae raised on eggplant. Duration of larval stage were 30.33 and 32.33 days for each of the two host plants respectively was. The average of pupal weight raised on tomato plants was 0.364 g significantly different from pupal weight of 0.252 g raised on eggplant. The results revealed that the age of the adult on each of the eggplant and tomato was 18.40 and 16.20 days respectively. There were no significant difference for the host plant in the pre-oviposition period for adult females. Statistical analysis of data showed a significant difference in the oviposition period for adult fed tomato leaves, amounting to 13.40 days compared to 8.60 days when fed on eggplant. Results showed the means of female fecundity, food consumption by larval instars and duration of the life cycle of cotton leaf worm.