PERFORMANCE OF A LEPIDOPTERAN PEST COMPLEX (LANGOSTA) (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) ON SORGHUM, MAIZE, AND NONCROP VEGETATION IN HONDURAS

Feeding performance of Spodoptera latifascia (Walker), S. frugiperda ( J. E. Smith), and Metaponpneumata rogenhoferi (Moschler) larvae was in vestigated in the laboratory. Leaves of seedling or mature sorghum, So rghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae); maize, Zea mays (L.) (Poaceae); I xophorus unisetus (Presl) Schlecht (Poaceae): four broadleaf noncrop s pecies: and artificial diet were tested. Based on larval and pupal wei ghts, survival, and developmental times, Amaranthus sp., probably A. h ybridus L. or A. viridis L. (Amaranthacea) and Portulaca oleracea L. ( Portulacacea) were the most suitable hosts (of plants tested) for S. l atifascia larvae, and sorghum, maize, and I. unisetus were the poorest hosts. Diet or plant growth stage did not affect sex ratio, adult lon gevity, or fecundity. Larvae fed leaves of seedling or mature Amaranth us sp., P. oleracea, Ipomoea sp. [probably I. purpurea (L.) Roth] (Con volvulaceae), or maize differed in measures of the above biological pa rameters. Pupal weights of M. rogenhoferi larvae fed Amaranthus sp. Me lampodium divaricatum (Rich. ex pers.) Dc. (Asteraceae): and P. olerac ea were higher than those of larvae fed I. unisetus, sorghum, or maize . Survival and sex ratio were similar on all diets. higher larval weig ht was observed on maize compared with sorghum. S. frugiperda larval w eight was highest on maize, and lowest on Ipomoea sp. Our results indi cate that sorghum and maize may serve as sink habitats (where populati ons decline) for S. latifascia and hi. rogenhoferi; source habitats (w here populations originate) appear to be noncrop vegetation. Appropria te weed management during the crop growing season may reduce potential pest populations and crop damage.