FEEDING PREFERENCES OF NEONATES AND LATE INSTAR LARVAE OF A LEPIDOPTEROUS PEST COMPLEX (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) ON SORGHUM, MAIZE, AND NONCROP VEGETATION IN HONDURAS

Feeding preferences of neonates and late-instar larvae of Spodoptera l atifascia (Walker), S. frugiperda (J. E. Smith), and Metaponpneumata r ogenhoferi (Moschler) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were studied in the lab oratory using leaf disk choice tests. S. latifascia neonates showed si gnificant preference for Amaranthus sp. L., Portulaca oleracea L., Mel ampodium divaricatum (Rich. ex Pers.) DC., and Ixophorus unisetus (Pre sl.) Schlecht over sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, or maize, Zea mays (L.). Ipomoea sp., probably I. purpurea (L.) Jacq., was preferre d over sorghum. They showed no marked preference between sorghum and m aize. S. frugiperda neonates preferred Amaranthus sp. and I. unisetus over sorghum and maize, but sorghum and maize were preferred over Ipom oea sp. S. latifascia reared on broadleaf species consumed more of the diet on which they were reared than they did of sorghum or maize when given a choice. S. frugiperda exhibited a similar response when reare d on M. divaricatum. Induction of feeding preference and aversion lear ning occurred in both S. latifascia and S. frugiperda larvae when rear ed on selected hosts. M. rogenhoferi reared on sorghum or maize prefer red other species when offered a choice.