Can Sweet Maize Act as a Trap Crop for Fall Armyworm?

Among various plants, corn is the primary host damaged by <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). After long-term regional colonization, its larvae feed on sweet waxy corn and fresh corn for extended periods. A question arises: Does long-term feeding on different corn varieties affect their rhythms? Currently, there are no reports addressing these issues. To facilitate the formulation of effective prevention and control measures, Zhengdan 958 and Zhenghuangnuo were selected as representative varieties of normal and sweet waxy corn, respectively, for laboratory experiments. <i>S. frugiperda</i> were fed the leaves of these two corn types over nine consecutive generations, thereby establishing distinct <i>S. frugiperda</i> strains associated with each corn variety. Additionally, a strain fed an artificial diet served as the control group. Through a comparative analysis of the emergence, movement, nutritional foraging, dormancy, mating, and oviposition behaviors of adult fall armyworms from different populations, differences in the six behavioral peak times among the strains were identified. RT-qPCR analysis indicated significant differences in the expression levels of four circadian clock genes across different populations and tissues of the fall armyworm. Feeding on different host plants influenced the expression of circadian clock genes and their associated behavioral rhythms. Our study showed that sweet corn is more conducive to pupation, mating, and oviposition. Because of these differences in adult insect rhythms, sweet corn may have an impact on the reproduction of fall armyworms in the Huang–Huai–Hai corn-planting region.