Utilization of Food and Nitrogen by the Beet Armyworm., Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)., in Relation to Food Type and Dietary Nitrogen Levels

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Abstract
The influence of host plant type and nitrogen level on beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), performance was determined. Larval development time and mortality were decreased, and egg production increased, by nitrogen application to host plants. While food and nitrogen utilization efficiencies differed somewhat with host plant type, the studies indicated that foliage became more digestible and efficiency of conversion of ingested and digested food increased, as nitrogen levels increased. In addition, nitrogen utilization efficiency and nitrogen accumulation rates were inversely related to nitrogen application level, while nitrogen consumption rate was not affected.