Jinying Xu

College of Life Science, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Entomology, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 2   
Received: 08 Feb., 2025    Accepted: 11 Mar., 2025    Published: 23 Mar., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) is one of the most important pests of cruciferous vegetables worldwide. It reproduces quickly, develops resistance to pesticides, and has overlapping generations, which makes it hard to control. In this study, diamondback moths were reared on Chinese cabbage under controlled conditions. Their life cycle, behavior, and the effects of different conditions on development were observed and recorded. The results showed that under 24°C, 60%-80% humidity, and a light/dark cycle of 14 hours light and 10 hours dark, the full development from egg to adult took about 13 to 20 days. Keeping the temperature stable was found to be very important for improving egg hatch rates and successful reproduction. This study also recorded the behavior of larvae at different stages and how they damaged the host plant. The research provides a stable insect population for future studies on the biology, environmental adaptability, and resistance of the diamondback moth. It also offers a useful strategy for developing eco-friendly control methods.

Diamondback moth; Artificial rearing; Life cycle; Environmental factors; Cruciferous vegetables