Host plants play an important role in the growth, development, and reproduction of insects. However, only a few studies have reported the effects of maize varieties on the growth and reproduction of S. frugiperda. In this study, a free-choice test was used to evaluate the oviposition preferences of female adults on ten common maize varieties and ten special maize varieties. The population fitness of S. frugiperda on six different maize varieties was also examined using the age-stage, two-sex life table method. The results showed that S. frugiperda oviposited and completed its life cycle across all maize cultivars. Moreover, the S. frugiperda females exhibited a significantly higher oviposition preference on the special maize varieties than on the common maize varieties. The highest number of eggs and egg masses occurred on Baitiannuo and the lowest on Zhengdan 958. The egg + larval stage, preadult, pupal stage, adult, APOP, TPOP, and total longevity of S. frugiperda were significantly shorter on the special maize varieties than on the common maize varieties. The fecundity, oviposition days, pupal weight, and hatching rate of S. frugiperda were significantly higher on the special maize varieties than on the common maize varieties. Specifically, S. frugiperda had the highest fecundity, female, and male pupal weight on Baitiannuo. Moreover, the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) of S. frugiperda were the greatest on Baitiannuo, whereas the shortest mean generation time (T) occurred on Zaocuiwang. The lowest R0, r, and λ, and longest T occurred on Zhengdan 958, suggesting that Zhengdan 958 is a non-preferred host plant compared to the other tested maize varieties. The findings of this study can provide a reference for the rational planting of maize and provide basic scientific information for the management of S. frugiperda.
Keywords: Spodoptera frugiperda; common maize; host preference; life cycle; special maize.