Molecular Entomology, 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 11-18 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/me 12 veins; (2) Dribbling behavior: often feeds into the heart and leaves of plants, causing tissue decay; (3) Transfer hazard: possessing the ability to actively migrate and diffuse; (4) Polyphagy: can simultaneously harm different organs such as leaves, flowers, and fruits. In recent years, monitoring data has shown that the economic losses caused by Spodoptera litura to agricultural production are becoming increasingly severe (Tuan et al., 2017; Thakur et al., 2024). For example, causing yield losses in crops such as cotton, corn, tobacco, and various vegetables, with damage levels ranging from 50% to 100% in some cases (Un Nisa et al., 2023). Zhang et al. (2023) believe that there are several factors contributing to the outbreak of Spodoptera litura: (1) the expansion of facility agriculture, such as the application of plastic greenhouses, providing abundant food sources and superior wintering environments for Spodoptera litura; (2) The arid climate is conducive to the growth of this population; (3) With the application of pesticides and other insecticides, older larvae have developed significant resistance to conventional pesticides; (4) The reform of the farming system has diversified vegetable varieties, expanded planting areas, and increased the multiple cropping index (the multiple cropping index of arable land has increased from 1.45 in 2018 to 1.62 in 2022). This study used soybean plants as the sole feed source to simulate natural conditions indoors and observed the full lifecycle of Spodoptera litura, aiming to investigate its growth cycle, behavioral habits, and the impact of rearing conditions on its reproductive capacity. The findings will provide experimental data and theoretical support for future green pest control, precise identification, and resource utilization strategies. 2 Materials and Methods 2.1 Collection and screening of insect sources The sources of Spodoptera litura used in this experiment were collected from soybean fields, and a total of 14 mature larvae were captured. They were placed in glass culture bottles and fed with fresh soybean leaves, and 13 individuals successfully pupated, with a pupation rate of 92.9%, and one larva died in the pre-pupae stage. After the insect sources were brought into the room, they were first raised individually for observation for one generation, and then they were confirmed to develop normally and be free of pathogens before being incorporated into large groups for breeding. This screening measure can avoid problems such as premature aging and lack of vitality of the breeding population due to latent infection. 2.2 Rearing environment and instruments The indoor rearing of Spodoptera litura needs to simulate the suitable environmental conditions for its growth in the wild as much as possible. Temperature is an important factor affecting the development rate. The experimental room uses air conditioning to maintain a constant temperature of about 26℃, and the measured temperature is about 25.5℃. Due to the influence of air conditioning refrigeration, the air humidity is about 23%. It is transferred to a container with a layer of about 20% moist fine sand inside to increase the humidity of the local microenvironment. In terms of light cycle, fluorescent lamps are used to supplement lighting to simulate the natural circadian rhythm, and the light cycle is controlled to 12 hours of light: 12 hours of darkness. Instruments and supplies: temperature and humidity controlled air conditioner (Midea brand), digital temperature and humidity meter (precision ±0.1 °C/±2% RH), white plastic emergence containers, black plastic soybean cultivation containers, nylon rearing net boxes, brushes, standard measuring tools (ruler, etc.), petri dishes, cotton, iron shovel, hoe, glass bottles, digital camera, and charger. Reagents: honey (food grade), tap water. 2.3 Feeding method Feed: In this experiment, soybean leaves were selected as the main feed. Soybeans have the advantages of rich nutrition, short growth cycle, and natural ingredients. Spodoptera litura showed a significant feeding preference for leguminous plants. Its host selectivity was: Leguminosae> Cruciferae> Araceae> Cucurbitaceae> Malvaceae> Amaranthaceae (Zou et al., 2016). Soybean seeds are purchased from ordinary commercial products. To ensure year-round supply, while soybeans are potted indoors, small plots of land are opened up outdoors for rotational sowing to continuously provide fresh
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