Abstract:

The interactions of host plants, the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), and its natural enemies was summarized. The mechanism and inducement of plant inducible resistance induced by the beet armyworm were introduced. The author clarified the synthesis and function of volicitin that elicits herbivore-induced plant volatiles, and the characteristics and ecological function of herbivoreinducible plant volatiles and wound-induced defense proteins in regulating the interactions of host plants, the beet armyworm, and its parasitoid natural enemies. The roles of plant inducible resistance in biological control of the beet armyworm and the research exploring new resistant varieties of crops in future were also discussed.

Key words: Spodoptera exigua, host plant, parasitoid wasps, tritrophic interactions, plant resistance to insects, bio-control