Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Orientation and Preference for Selected Grasses

Authors

  • N. T. Chang
  • B. R. Wiseman
  • R. E. Lynch
  • D. H. Habeck

Abstract

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), orientation and preference for `Coastal', Tifton 10, and Tifton 292 bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), C-181, and common centipedegrass [Eremochola ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.], and zoysiagrass (Zoysia sp.) were studied. A Y-tube was used to measure chemoreception as a mechanism for orienting fall armyworm larvae to excised grass tissue. Larvae showed a significant orientation to the chemical stimuli from all the grasses but showed no preference in paired comparisons. Multiple choice preference tests indicated that the order of preference for the six grasses was: Tifton 10 (highly preferred) > Coastal bermudagrass > common centipedegrass > C-181 > Tifton 292 > (non-preferred) zoysiagrass. Damage ratings confirmed the preference of fall armyworm larvae for Tifton 10 as it sustained 50 times more damage than zoysiagrass. No differences were observed in the host plant preference between 1st and 3rd-instar larvae.

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Published

1985-06-01

Issue

Vol. 68, No. 2 (June 1985)

Section

Literature Review Articles

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