Linking life table and consumption rate of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda reared on different maize cultivars

The life table and leaf consumption data of the fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) reared on three cultivated maize varieties, sweet maize (SMJ), waxy maize (WMJ), and silage maize (SMT) were collected and analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table procedure. The highest net consumption rate (C 0), net reproductive rate (R 0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and finite consumption rate (ω) were observed on SMJ (C 0 = 155 cm2, R 0 = 211.1 offspring, r = 0.1494 d-1, λ = 1.1611 d-1, and ω = 2.809). The lowest population parameter values were observed on SMT (C 0 = 122 cm2, R 0 = 135.5 offspring, r = 0.1336 d-1, λ = 1.1429 d-1, and ω = 2.625). The instar-net consumption rates can be described using geometric regression with a 3-fold increase rate from one stage to the next. Because the susceptibility of maize plants to pest damage varies with their growth stage, it is necessary to set separate economic thresholds for pest management at the seedling, bell, and heading stages. In this study, we demonstrated that the life table data, stage-specific leaf consumption, and stage structure could be successfully integrated using computer simulation to obtain optimal timing of pest management procedures. Consolidating these separate data sets is crucial in formulating a sound ecological and economic integrated pest management strategy to control S. frugiperda.