Abstract

Spodoptera mauritia is a pest that causes severe damage to rice crops. In the present study, the effects of juvenile hormone analogue, fenoxycarb were evaluated against S. mauritia. The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th instar larvae and pupae were exposed to a wide range of concentrations of fenoxycarb and thereafter observed for the insecticidal activities of the compound. The calculated LD50 values of 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th instar larvae and pupae for fenoxycarb were 0.04, 0.13, 0.19, 0.64 and 0.004 μM, respectively. Higher concentrations of the compound were found to disrupt metamorphosis of S. mauritia. The significant difference in larval mortality, larval duration, pupation, pupal mortality and adult emergence in comparison to their control was recorded. Almost 100% suppression of adult emergence at higher doses of 5.00 and 10.00 μM fenoxycarb was seen. The morphogenic abnormalities and other effects indicated that fenoxycarb behaved as insecticides that severely hampered normal growth, development, metamorphosis and reproduction of S. mauritia.