Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a native to the Americas and recently reported in Africa, Germany, the Netherlands and India, is a significant pest of many crop species. Although a widespread and important pest, information on its biology and development are incomplete and require detailed study. In this study, the biotic potential and reproductive parameters of S. frugiperda were evaluated under controlled conditions (25±1 °C, 70±10% RH and 14 hour photophase). The longevity, pre-, post- and oviposition periods, fecundity, and fertility of 30 pairs were evaluated. The longevity of females (10.87 days) was not significantly different from that of males (10.90 days). The mean durations of the pre-, post- and oviposition periods were 2.63, 0.53 and 7.70 days, respectively. The mean fecundity was 2,370.66 eggs per female and mean fertility was 2,309.03 larvae per female. On average, a female copulated 1.6 times. The biotic potential of S. frugiperda was estimated at 2.086 × 10²⁹ individuals/female/year. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 1,079.73 times per generation and the mean generation time (T) was 32.00 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.22, with a finite rate of increase (λ) of 1.24 per day. This study evaluates and describes the biological parameters of S. frugiperda with special emphasis on its biotic potential and reproductive parameters. This information will improve the development of integrated pest management (IPM) and insect resistance management (IRM) for this species.

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