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Selection Behavior of the Beet Armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) Between Bt Maize and Conventional Maize Plants

Cheng Song,Xianming Yang,Guodong Kang,Limei He,Wenhui Wang,Xiang Han,Yujiao Xie,Kongming Wu

Published 2025 in Insects

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary Bt crops are a key strategy for controlling Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), yet the behavioral characteristics of this pest on Bt and non-Bt plants remain unexplored. This study demonstrates that S. exigua larvae prefer to feed on non-Bt maize and exhibit antifeedant and avoidance behavior toward Bt maize expressing Cry1Ab + Vip3Aa19 proteins. Although female moths showed no oviposition preference between Bt and non-Bt maize plants under undamaged conditions, they preferentially oviposited on Bt maize when non-Bt maize plants were damaged. Under the seed-mixture refuge pattern, S. exigua larvae exhibited frequent interplant movement between Bt and non-Bt maize plants. Increasing the proportion of non-Bt maize significantly enhanced larval dispersal distances and raised the risk of transit damage to Bt maize plants. These findings clarify the behavioral responses of S. exigua to Bt and non-Bt maize plants, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing refuge strategy to delay resistance evolution. Abstract Establishing refuges is a primary strategy for managing resistance in target pests against Bt maize. The larval feeding and dispersal, and adult oviposition behaviors of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) on Bt and non-Bt maize plants are critical factors in determining optimal refuge configurations. This study employed laboratory and field experiments to evaluate the larval feeding and dispersal behaviors, as well as the oviposition preferences of S. exigua moths, on Bt (Cry1Ab + Vip3Aa19) and non-Bt maize plants. Results showed that as time of the choice test increased, the larval selection rate on Bt maize leaves declined progressively, with all instars (1st–5th) preferring to feed on non-Bt maize. After 48 h, the selection rates of larvae for non-Bt and Bt maize were 40.63–66.25% and 9.38–33.75%, respectively. Female moths exhibited no significant oviposition preference between Bt and non-Bt plants under undamaged conditions; however, when non-Bt maize was infested by the larvae, females preferentially oviposited on Bt maize plants (73.55%). Under the seed-mixture refuge pattern in field conditions, increasing the proportion of non-Bt maize significantly enhanced larval dispersal distances and facilitated larval transit damage between Bt and non-Bt plants. Our research clarifies the behavioral patterns of S. exigua on Bt and non-Bt maize, provides a scientific basis for optimizing refuge strategy to delay the development of resistance.

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