Incidence of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Its Feeding Potential on Various Citrus (Sapindales: Rutaceae) Cultivars in the Sargodha Region of Pakistan

Abstract

Spodoptera litura F. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) adversely affects important crops such as cotton, okra, tomato, potato, and pumpkin. For the first time, this species was observed in a citrus nursery in the Sargodha Region of Pakistan. The principal objectives of this study were to determine the effects of several citrus (Sapindales: Rutaceae) cultivars, including Citrus reticulata Blanco (Feutrell's Early, Seedless Kinnow, and Fairchild mandarin orange) and Citrus paradisi Macfad. (grapefruit), on feeding by S. litura, and the effects of these plants on the growth of the insect. Based on performance of 3rd instars, Feutrell's Early and Seedless Kinnow supported maximum relative growth rates, high efficiencies of conversion of ingested food, and high levels of leaf consumption and larval weight gain, relative to the other citrus cultivars. Values of these parameters were lowest on grapefruit. Thus, the mandarin oranges Feutrell's Early and Seedless Kinnow were more susceptible to damage than grapefruit.