Biology and Management of Spodoptera litura on Cabbage in Laboratory Conditions

Spodoptera litura, commonly known as the tobacco cutworm, is a significant polyphagous pest of cabbage and other cruciferous crops. This study investigated the biology and evaluated the efficacy of different management strategies against Spodoptera litura on cabbage under laboratory conditions. Observations on the life cycle parameters, including incubation period (3.0±0.0 days), larval duration (29.60 days), pupal duration (8.80±1.48 days), and adult longevity (8.20±0.92 days, female, and 5.90±1.10 days, male), were recorded. Different management strategies, such as neem kernel extract (NSKE) containing 0.15% azadirachtin, Beauveria bassiana (Green Beauveria @ 1 × CFU/ml and Multiplex Baba 2 × CFU/ml), and newer insecticides (Novaluron, 10% EC, and Spinosad, 2.5% SC), were evaluated for their efficacy in controlling larval populations. Spinosad (0.025 %) and novaluron (0.01 %) when treated on I, II, III and IV instar larva resulted in 100% mortality in only 3 DAT while Green Beauveria (2% and 4%) was able to kill only 43.33% of I and II instar larvae in 3 DAT and Multiplex Baba (4%) 10% and 16.67% on III and IV instar larvae, respectively. The application of NSKE (0.2%) was only effective on I and III instar larvae with a mortality rate of 33.33 and 11.11% respectively. Thus, the results revealed that chemical insecticides were highly effective than Beauveria bassiana and NSKE. This information can be utilized to develop sustainable and eco-friendly pest management programs for Spodoptera litura on cabbage in field conditions.