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Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of shifting Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd. ) larvae from a host plant to another on the biological parameters, under laboratory conditions of 25 - 30 0C , 60 - 70 % R.H. and 12 L : 12 D photoperiod . Host plants were : castor oil (Ricinus communis), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and okra (Hibiscus esculentus) leaves . Insects were reared for 3 successive generations on each of the three mentioned host plants and then shifted to each of the other two host plants . Larvae reared continuously on castor oil , okra and tomato leaves then shifted to either one of the other plants induced a highly significant decrease in the mean larval and pupal weights |