EVALUATION OF VARIOUS NATURAL DIETS FOR MASS REARING OF Spodoptera frugiperda J.E SMITH (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda is one of the pests that attack corn in Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the most suitable diet for rearing of S. frugiperda from various natural diets. The study was conducted in vitro. The treatments were consisted of variation on S. frugiperda natural diets, such as maize leaf, green mustard leaf, water spinach, sweet potato leaf, sugar cane leaf, and soybeans leaf. The observed variables were life cycle period, pupa size, and pupa weight. The results showed that the shortest life cycle period was on corn leaves diet (40.92 days), and the longest was on sugarcane leaves (45.01 days). The longest size of pupa were S. frugiperda on mustard leaves diet (12.86 mm) and corn leaves (12.56 mm), The heaviest pupa weights were observed in S. frugiperda on mustard leaves diet (0.18 mg), and corn leaves (0.16 mg). Based on the data, it could be concluded that corn leaves were the most suitable type of diet for the growth and development of S. frugiperda.