• Scientific name: Spodoptera littoralis.
• Polyphagous pest affecting crops like cotton, tomatoes, maize, tobacco, and peppers.
• Found across tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, Middle East, and South Asia.
• The moth has been spreading to new areas due to climate change.
• Larvae damage crops by feeding on leaves, stems, and flowers, reducing crop yield and quality.

• Female moths use plant acoustic emissions (sound clicks) to decide where to lay eggs.
• These sounds, undetectable to humans, help the moths identify healthier, hydrated plants for egg-laying.
• Moths avoid stressed, dehydrated plants that produce stress-related sounds.

• Harmful in cotton-growing regions.
• Larvae cause significant damage to a variety of crops, particularly cotton, tomatoes, and tobacco, impacting the quality and quantity of the produce.

PYQ:

[2014] Which of the following statements is / are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?

1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.

2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.

3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3