Effects of different photoperiods on reproductive behavior of Spodoptera litura

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20250240

Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (3): 541-550.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20250240

• Plant Protection • Previous Articles Next Articles

Effects of different photoperiods on reproductive behavior of Spodoptera litura

XUE Qian¹(), WU Menglu¹, SUN Qingming², SU Honghua¹^,^*()

^1. College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China
^2. Key Laboratory of South Asian Tropical Fruit Tree Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fruit Tree Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China

Received:2025-03-25 Online:2026-03-25 Published:2026-04-17
Contact: SU Honghua

Abstract

Abstract:

To investigate the effects of photoperiod changes on the reproductive behavior of Spodoptera litura, this study used infrared cameras to continuously observe nine scotophases, examining the impacts of three different photoperiod treatments: 12 h light∶12 h dark (12 L∶12 D), 16 h light∶8 h dark (16 L∶8 D) and 20 h light∶4 h dark (20 L∶4 D), on courtship, mating behavior, and fecundity of S. litura adults. The results showed that under the 12 L∶12 D treatment, S. litura was most active during the 2nd to 6th scotophases. With prolonged observation time, parameters such as courtship frequency, courtship duration, mating frequency, mating duration, mating rate, and daily egg production of S. litura continuously decreased. Under the 20 L∶4 D treatment, the courtship frequency, courtship duration, mating frequency, mating rate, and total egg production of S. litura were only 41.83%, 32.84%, 31.82%, 45.83%, and 26.85%, respectively, of those under the 12 L∶12 D treatment. The photoperiod treatment of 20 L∶4 D can affect the reproductive behavior of S. litura, thereby significantly reducing its egg production.

Key words: Spodoptera litura, photoperiod, reproductive behavior, daily egg production, fecundity

CLC Number:

S476

XUE Qian, WU Menglu, SUN Qingming, SU Honghua. Effects of different photoperiods on reproductive behavior of Spodoptera litura[J]. Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis, 2026, 38(3): 541-550.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 The onset time of courtship behavior of Spodoptera litura under different photoperiods (based on the start of the scotophase) Data in the chart are presented as mean±SE. Different lowercase letters in the same scotophase indicate significant (p<0.05) differences in the timing of courtship relative to the start of the scotophase among the three photoperiods treatments (12 L∶12 D, 16 L∶8 D and 20 L∶4 D) as determined by Tukey’s test. The same as figure 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10.

Fig.2 Courtship frequency of Spodoptera litura during nine scotophases under different photoperiods

Fig.3 Total courtship frequency of Spodoptera litura under different photoperiods Bars marked without the same uppercase letter indicate significant differences (p<0.01). The same as figure 5 and 11.

Fig.4 Courtship duration of Spodoptera litura during nine scotophases under different photoperiods

Fig.5 Total courtship duration of Spodoptera litura under different photoperiods

Fig.6 Mating behavior initiation time of Spodoptera litura under different photoperiods (based on the start of the scotophase)

Fig.7 Mating frequency of Spodoptera litura during the scotophase under different photoperiods

Fig.8 Total mating frequency of Spodoptera litura under different photoperiods Bars marked without the same lowercase letter indicate significant differences (p<0.05). The same as figure 9.

Fig.9 Mating rate of Spodoptera litura under different photoperiods

Fig.10 Number of eggs laid per female of Spodoptera litura during the scotophase under different photoperiods

Fig.11 Total eggs number of Spodoptera litura under different photoperiods

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Effects of different photoperiods on reproductive behavior of Spodoptera litura

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