Oviposition Preferences of the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Response to Various Potential Repellent and Attractant Plants

Abstract

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has caused significant crop damage worldwide, particularly to maize and other economically important crops. While chemical control remains common, understanding pest behavior and host plant preferences could enable more sustainable management approaches. This study investigated the oviposition preferences of S. frugiperda among various host plants using no-choice, two-choice, and multiple-choice bioassays. In no-choice bioassays, para grass, maize, and napier grass were highly attractive for S. frugiperda oviposition, while plants like sweet sorghum, sunhemp, desmodium, Egyptian clover, molasses grass and mung bean were less preferred. Two-choice bioassays revealed differing levels of attractiveness and repellency among plant combinations. In multiple-choice experiments simulating intercropping scenarios, the number of S. frugiperda eggs and egg masses varied across maize, sunhemp, desmodium, and the cage walls. These findings suggest that strategic intercropping of attractive and less preferred host plants could be a promising approach to disrupt S. frugiperda oviposition and reduce subsequent larval infestations. This study provides valuable insights into the ovipositional behavior of S. frugiperda and highlights the potential of intercropping as an environmentally friendly pest management strategy. By reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, such approaches can contribute to sustainable agriculture and protect crop yields.