Performance of Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Reared on Various Horticultural Crops

ABSTRACT The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a highly polyphagous pest native to the Americas, has recently established in Australia, posing a significant threat to horticulture and grain production. Although initial reports documented its infestations across various crops, detailed knowledge of its development and reproductive performance on key Australian horticultural crops remains limited. This study assessed the life history traits of FAW on various putative hosts, strawberry, capsicum, okra, bean, and sweetcorn, under laboratory conditions. FAW exhibited longer larval and pupal developmental periods on strawberry, capsicum, and okra than on bean and sweetcorn, confirming these latter two plants as highly suitable hosts. Adults developing as larvae on strawberry, capsicum, and okra produced fewer eggs than those from bean and sweetcorn. Notably, adults that developed from capsicum‐fed larvae produced non‐viable eggs, indicating that capsicum may not support full life completion and is not a host. Oviposition preference was higher on sweetcorn, strawberry, and okra compared to bean and capsicum. Since FAW could complete development on most tested plant species, outbreaks could have serious consequences, particularly in sweetcorn cultivation regions. These findings provide critical insights into the plant‐dependent performance of FAW and highlight the need for crop‐specific monitoring and targeted management strategies within the Australian horticultural system.