Host preference for oviposition and feeding by diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella linn

Preference for oviposition and feeding by Plutella xylostella was evaluated on certain cruciferous crops viz., cabbage, cauliflower, knol khol and mustard by free choice, dual choice and no choice tests. Knol khol (118.0 eggs) followed by cauliflower (74.0 eggs) was more preferred for oviposition in no choice conditions, with a mean of 86.5 and 55.0 larvae feeding, respectively. Under dual choice, mustard combined with cabbage (120.5) recorded more number of eggs and 82.5 larvae feeding on mustard. Combination of mustard with any other host resulted in reduced egg laying on the host in combination. Under free choice, mustard was more preferred for oviposition and feeding. More oviposition and feeding on mustard when grown incombination with other crops, indicate its potential as trap crop to curtail the population of P. xylostella and reduce insecticidal applications on the main crop.