Received: 28-12-2015 / Accepted: 05-05-2016
The development and life cycle of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua(Hübner), were determined in the laboratoryusing six feedplants: welsh onion(Allium fistulosum); amaranth(Amaranthus viridis); mustard greens(Brassica integrifolia); mung bean(Vigna radiata); cabbage(Brassica oleracea capitata); and turmeric(Curcuma longa). The life cycle of S. exiguawas shortest on amaranth (24.2 days) and longest on turmeric (34.7 days). Feedplantsdid not significantly affectthe percentage of egg hatching or pupal survival. However, larval survival differed among feedplants, being highest on amaranth (87.6%) and lowest on turmeric (50.0%). The highest percentage of female progeny was recorded from S. exiguareared on welsh onion (46.7%) and the lowest for larvae reared on turmeric (36.1%). The fecundity of S. exiguafemales ranged from 174.3 eggs on turmeric to 453.8 eggs on amaranth. Within each feedplant, the increased pupal weight resulted in increasedfecundity. It means that the fecundity was significantly related tothefemale pupal weight ofS. exiguareared on test feedplants(r = 0,883 - 0,965).