Locomotory behaviour of susceptible and resistant Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Locomotory behaviour of insecticide-resistant and susceptible populations of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), a challenging insect-pest of cruciferous vegetable crops round the globe, was studied with the help of Ethovision. Larvae from the susceptible population of P. xylostella travelled more distance on insecticide-treated or untreated surface and consequently their speed was also more as compared to those taken from the insecticide-resistant population.Whereas, the turn angle of larvae from insecticide-resistant population was significantly higher as compared to those from susceptible population. The resistant larvae travelled significantly less distance (260.68 cm/5 min) on treated-surface (with LC50 value of endosulfan, quinalphos, fenvalerate and spinosad) with more value of turn angle (231.16A degrees) than the susceptible ones which moved faster (517.23 cm/5 min) with less value of turn angle (100.63A degrees). Influence of varying temperatures on locomotory behaviour of larvae from the susceptible and resistant population of P. xylostella was also studied and observed that susceptible P. xylostella larvae travelled significantly greater distance as compared to the larvae from insecticide-resistant population, at different temperatures. Locomotory behaviour of larvae of P. xylostella also changes with food conditions. Resistant larvae starved for 24 h travelled significantly lesser distance (147.29 cm) as compared to unstarved ones (332.50 cm). Similar trend in behaviour was also recorded with respect to speed of larvae of P. xylostella. Larvae turn more frequently when kept without food (starved) than those fed normally; the turn angle was significantly higher (290.07A degrees) for resistant larvae and for susceptible larvae it was lesser i.e. 151.55A degrees, when kept at starved conditions. Hence, certain pronounced behavioural differences were registered in locomotion of insecticide-resistant P. xylostella as compared to the susceptible one and this knowledge would help to find effective management solutions to P. xylostella.