Vol. 12, Special Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Payal Sharma, SB Das, Gopilal Anjana and Deepali Vishwakarma

Abstract:
The fall army worm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest and it has a high preference for oat (Avena sativa L.) crop. The biology and morphometrics characteristics of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) reared on fodder oat genotypes viz. JO-1, JO-2, JO-5, JO03-91, JO03-93, Kent, OS-6 and UPO-212 were studied during rabi 2020-21, under laboratory conditions. Among the eight fodder oat genotypes, three genotypes viz. Kent, OS-6 and UPO-212 were found to be highly susceptible to S. frugiperda and JO-1, JO-2 and JO-5 were found to be least susceptible. Gravid female preoviposition period and oviposition period was non-significant. The mean number of egg clusters and egg laid per female ranged from 4.67 to 8.33, 76.56 to 293.11 respectively. Incubation, total larval, pupal, male and female adult longevity period were significantly observed to be from 3.23 to 3.57, 14.93 to 19.57, 7.54 to 8.85, 5.84 to 7.98 and 7.23 to 8.64 days respectively in different genotypes. Morphometrics characteristics head capsule width (HCW), body length (BL) and body width (BW) observed were significantly in different genotypes of fodder oat. The male pupal length and width ranged from 11.750 mm to 12.443 mm and 4.225mm to 5.411 mm respectively, while for female pupae it ranged from 13.922 mm to 15.771 mm and 4.277 mm to 5.665 mm respectively. The wing expansion and body length of male moths significantly ranged from 27.57 mm to 29.39 mm and 11.86 mm to 14.15 mm, while for female it was 28.09 mm to 29.76 mm and 12.66 mm to 14.95 mm respectively. The findings of the present investigation are useful to design an integrated management protocol for the fall army worm in oat crop.