The Effect of Food Plants on the Development and Egg Production of the Tobacco Cutworm (Prodenia Litura Fab.)

Abstract

The effect of the host plants on the growth and development of the tobacco cutworm (Prodenia Litura Fab.), was investigated by feeding the insect with leaves of cotton, mulberry, cockscomb (Celosia argentea linn.), sacred lotus (nelumbo nucifea Gacrtn.) and tropical morning glory (Ipomoea reptans Poir.). The insect was reared on each host up to the third generation and the results of the records on the rate of larval development, times of molting, colour change, and egg productivety of this generation were compared. No difference on the rate of larval development was observed when the insect fed on leaves of tropical morning glory, mulberry, and lotus. However, the larval stage of this insect was lengthened when they were allowed to feed on leaves of cotton and cockscomb. The number of molt was different as follows, five for rearing on tropical morning glory, mulberry, and sacred lotus, 5-6 on cotton, and six on cockscomb. The average number of egg production from three Pairs of adult grown from upland plants (cotton, mulberry, and cockscomb) was much higher when compared with those grown from aquatic plants (tropical morning glory and sacred lotus) When the average width of head capsule of the larval stage was plotted on a graph, it showed a distinctive difference which could be divided into two groups. A larger group was obtained from those larvae that reared on tropical morning glory, sacred lotus and mulberry. No difference in color change affected by different host plants was detected in this experiment.