DEVELOPMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF SPODOPTERA LITURA (F.) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

Abstract

On artificial medium Spodoptera litura (F.) adults developed from first instar larvae in 23.4 days at 28°C. Mean female longevity was 8.3 days and mean fecundity was 2673 eggs. Mean male longevity was 10.4 days. No mating took place on the night of emergence and maximum mating response occurred during the second night after emergence. The mean number of matings per male was 10.3 and per female was 3.1. Males transferred a mean of 1,052,640 sperm per mating and eupyrene and apyrene sperm were present in approximately equal amounts. Both sperm types persisted in the utriculus of the spermatheca throughout the life of the female but no sperm were ever found in the lagena. The morphology of the male and female reproductive systems is described. Copyright © 1980, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved