This study assesses the biology of Spodoptera litura about cabbage plants and investigates the efficacy of environmentally friendly botanical extracts and conventional insecticides against second-instar larvae of the pest. The mean incubation period of S. litura was 3.21±0.01 days. The developmental period of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth larval instar was 2.32±0.64, 2.34±0.65, 3.54±0.71, 3.54±0.71, and 2.43±1.81 days, respectively. Pupae were pale yellowish and then changed into dark reddish brown. Male pupae and female adults were shorter-lived than female pupae and male adults. The average mean longevity of males and females was 6.50±0.54, and 7.53±1.87 days, respectively. The total life cycle of pests was 32.63-37.43 days on cabbage. Azadirachta indica was recorded as the most toxic extract followed by Jatropha curcas, Nicotina tabacum, Eucalyptus globulus, and Allium sativum.  A. indica, and J. curcas caused 56.07, and 50.11% mortality to the larvae (F = 41.07; df = 5; p < 0.001) after 24 h and 93.33 and 81.44% mortality (F = 51.71; df = 5; p < 0.001) after 72 h of application. Significant variations were found in all insecticides on larval mortality at 24 hours (F = 46.44; df = 5; p < 0.001), 48 hours (F = 49.89; df = 5; p < 0.001), and 72 hours (F = 59.94; df = 5; p < 0.001) following treatment application. Specifically, 55.14, 50.33, 46.11, 33.21, and 18.01% of mortality was caused by radiant, coragen, tracer, imidacloprid, and malathion, respectively. Radiant demonstrated the highest level of toxicity, while Malathion was the least effective and least toxic. Notably, at the 72-hour, Radiant and Coragen induced larval mortalities of 96.17% and 83.56%, respectively.

Keywords: Cabbage; Spodoptera litura; Azadirachta indica; Spinetoram; Bio-rational; Eco-friendly; Integrated Pest Management