Effect of Methoxyfenozide on the Accessory Sex Glands of Spodoptera Mauritia Boisd (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Spodoptera mauritia Boisd. (Paddy army Worm) is a sporadic pest of paddy with wide distribution in India. The rice being the staple diet in many parts of India, studies leading to check the reproductive success and multiplication of the pest are important. The effect of methoxyfenozide, an ecdysone agonist on the development, differentiation and the secretory activity of ASGs of Spodoptera mauritia has been investigated in the current study. Day 0 tanned male pupae treated with 3μg methoxyfenozide showed slightly voluminous and abnormally entangled ASGs on day 8 and their overall length was reduced. ASGs of females looked normal and slightly translucent. The day 0 tanned male pupae treated with 30μg methoxyfenozide showed malformed and defective ASGs on day 8 and their length was highly reduced. ASGs of females were thicker and abnormally shorter and their overall morphology was distorted.