Biology of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) on different crop plants

Biology of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) was carried out on different crop plants, viz., tomato, cabbage, cauliflower and black gram. The total life cycle on cabbage, cauliflower, tomato and black gram was 33.95, 35.23, 37.60 and 43.14 days respectively. Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) completed its life cycle within a shorter period and consumed more food on cabbage as compared to other host plants. The sex ratio on cabbage, cauliflower, tomato and black gram was 1: 2, 1: 1.6, 1: 1.6 and 1: 1.3 respectively. The incubation period of the eggs on cabbage and cauliflower was 3 days. The percent viability of eggs was highest on cabbage (92%). The shortest larval period (22.4 days) and least pupal duration (4.8 days) was also recorded on cabbage, while longest pupal period (9.6 days) was found on black gram. The weight of larva and pupa on cabbage was 1064.4 mg and 387 mg respectively and per cent adult emergence was highest on cabbage (90%).