Priti Kumari Oraon*, Kanika Kumari, Kiran Kumari, Anita Kumari, Shushmita Banra & Anand Kumar Thakur
University Department of Zoology, Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Received : 28th May, 2021 ; Revised : 28th June, 2021
Abstract– Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest with the ability to cause serious damage to crops and seems difficult for us to manage it through synthetic chemicals due to insect – resistance. Moreover, harmful effects of synthetic pesticides on the environment, non – target organisms, humans etc. have been also reported. Hence, plants with pesticidal properties could be effective in influencing the behaviour of pests either through acceptance or deterrence of plants which can act as an alternative control strategy. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antifeedant activity of petroleum ether crude extract of Ipomoea carnea against third instar larvae of Spodoptera litura based on Preference index through leaf dip “No Choice” and “Choice” feeding assays. This study was carried out in three concentrations i.e. 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.5%. Results indicated that treated leaf discs were least preferred by Spodoptera litura at 0.5% concentration in No choice feeding assay. On contrary, treated leaf discs were preferred in all three above concentrations by Spodoptera litura in the Choice feeding assay. In conclusion, slight feeding deterrence was observed significantly in the No choice bioassay whereas leaf discs were preferred insignificantly in the Choice test may be due to lack of discrimination between treated and control discs.
Key words: Spodoptera litura, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Ipomoea carnea, No choice, Petroleum ether, Preference index
