Effect of Artificial and Corn Leaves Diets on Development, Survival and Reproduction of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Sierra Leone

The use of artificial diets to mass reared insect stock under laboratory conditions, promotes knowledge about the biology, behavior, and nutritional requirements of insects;with such information being fundamental for the formulation of efficient integrated pest management programs (IPM) strategies. However, the artificial diets used for rearing Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the laboratory in this study, do not contain wheat germ, used for routine laboratory rearing. The aim of this study was to compare food preference and consumption by S. frugiperda larvae, as well as evaluate insect developmental parameters in the standard diet and the bean-based diets under laboratory conditions. Four artificial diets were used: a standard diet based on broad beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) used to rear S. frugiperda (D1), a diet with the substitution of two types of beans, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) (D2) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L) (D3);and a diet of fresh corn leaves (D4), the host plant of the pest species. Using a multiple-choice test, we observed that the larvae preferred diets D4 followed by D1. The relative consumption rate (RCR), relative growth rate (RGR), relative metabolic rate (RMR), approximate digestibility (AD), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD), and the metabolic cost (CM) for S. frugiperda fifth instar larvae varied among diets. The diet D4 resulted in better ingestion, digestion, assimilation, and conversion of food, but with a metabolic cost to assimilate the food. The different bean varieties present in the diet influenced larval length, larval periods, larval survival, pupal periods, sex ratio, pupal weight, and pupal survival;but fecundity and longevity of adults were not affected. The different bean-based diets did positively influence population growth, with the most outstanding being D4. From the results of this study, the most adequate diet for rearing S. frugiperda in the laboratory is D4.

Complex interactions among insect viruses-insect vector-arboviruses

Insects are the host or vector of diverse viruses including those that infect vertebrates,plants,and fungi.Insect viruses reside inside their insect hosts and are vertically transmitted from parent to offspring.The insect virus-host relationship is intricate,as these viruses can impact various aspects of insect biology,such as development,reproduction,sex ratios,and immunity.Arthropod-borne viruses(arboviruses)that cause substantial global health or agricultural problems can also be vertically transmitted to insect vector progeny.Multiple infections with insect viruses and arboviruses are common in nature.Such coinfections involve complex interactions,including synergism,dependence,and antagonism.Recent studies have shed light on the influence of insect viruses on the competence of insect vectors for arboviruses.In this review,we focus on the biological effects of insect viruses on the transmission of arboviruses by insects.We also discuss the potential mechanisms by which insect viruses affect the ability of hosts to transmit arboviruses,as well as potential strategies for disease control through manipulation of insect viruses.Analyses of the interactions among insect vectors,insect viruses and arboviruses will provide new opportunities for development of innovative strategies to control arbovirus transmission.