Newly hatched Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) survived starvation periods of 20 to 35 hours, allowing a day to select a suitable feeding site. Starvation did not alter percent survival, pupal weight, or larval development time. Negative geotaxis and/or positive phototaxis response declined during the 2nd stadium. Although selection of corn leaves, ear sheaths, or ears by 3rd + 4th-stage larvae cannot explain larval distribution on plants, thigmotaxic responses may influence larvae to select enclosed plant regions.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Morrill et al. (1973) studied this question.