Effect of Natural and Artificial Diets on the Biological Performance of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a destructive pest threatening maize production and global food security. Diet quality plays a crucial role in its growth and survival, which is essential for laboratory rearing and pest management research. This study evaluated the effects of natural maize leaves and an artificial diet on the growth, development, and survival of S. frugiperda under controlled laboratory conditions. Second-instar larvae were reared in a completely randomized design with two diet treatments. Larvae fed the artificial diet developed significantly faster, attained greater biomass, and exhibited longer adult longevity compared with those fed maize leaves (P ≤ 0.05). Survival, pupation, and adult emergence were also significantly higher in the artificial diet treatment. These results demonstrate that diet quality strongly influences the biological performance of S. frugiperda. The artificial diet provided superior growth and survival and is therefore recommended for laboratory rearing and experimental studies.