Feeding Stimulant Mixtures for Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Feeding stimulant mixtures (Fest) were developed to improve rate of larval feeding of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) in comparison with Coax. A Fest mixture of cottonseed protein, soybean lecithin, sucrose, and yeast stimulated feeding of fifth instars significantly more than Coax on Styropor lamellae or in a cellulose mixture in choice tests, but not in no-choice tests. Cottonseed protein and oil were more acceptable than a mixture based on soybean meal and oil in choice and no-choice tests with Styropor. On intact cotton leaves of potted plants, no differences in larval weight or leaf area consumed by second instars were recorded among Fest mixtures, Coax, or the control, but differences from the control were significant when neonates fed on treated leaves for 10 d. Effects of feeding stimulant mixtures applied to inert carriers or plants are discussed.