Ethovision detection of larval movements of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) populations from different regions of Punjab

The present investigation was conducted to study the locomotory behaviour of Spodoptera litura Fabricius collected from three regions of Punjab, namely Amritsar, Kapurthala and Ludhiana. The test larvae were allowed to move on insecticide-treated surfaces and their movements were recorded with EthoVision. It is an automatic video recording system. The larval speed and distance-travelled were maximum on deltamethrin-treated surfaces (2.375 cm/s and 712.667 cm/5 min, respectively) followed by chlorpyriphos, thiodicarb, novaluron and chlorantraniliprole for Ludhiana district. In contrast, turn angle of larval population from Amritsar district was significantly higher on chlorantraniliprole (270.333°/5 min), followed by those moved on novaluron, thiodicarb, chlorpyriphos and deltamethrintreated surfaces. Pronounced behavioural differences were recorded in locomotion of different larval populations. The study will help explore management solutions for S. litura.