Biology of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Selected Weed Species Associated with Corn in North Cotabato, Philippines

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), also known as fall armyworm (FAW), is a destructive and highly polyphagous insect pest of corn. We hypothesize that associated weed species of corn may be an alternate host of FAW. This study investigated how different weed species associated with corn – such as Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton, Ageratum conyzoides L., Amaranthus spinosus L., Celosia argentea L., Commelina benghalensis L., Corchorus olitorius L., Ipomoea triloba L., Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Portulaca oleracea L., and Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. – influenced the biology of FAW, S. frugiperda, which were collected from an infested cornfield in North Cotabato, Philippines. The life history traits of 10 weeds were compared. In R. cochinchinensis, C. benghalensis, I. triloba, P. oleracea, and E. indica, there was a high number of egg masses and the number of eggs laid by the female compared to A. conyzoides, A. spinosus, C. argentea, C. olitorius, and S. nodiflora. The duration oviposition period, as well as adult male and female longevity, yielded the same results. The percent survival was the highest (97%) for I. triloba and the lowest for A. spinosus (83.5%) and S. nodiflora (82.50%). Furthermore, no survivors were found in A. conyzoides or C. argentea. According to our findings, six weed species promoted the growth of FAW from egg to adult.