Скачать или смотреть Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda | Caterpillar pest

Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda | Caterpillar pest

Fall armyworm:
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a highly destructive pest native to the Americas but has rapidly spread to Africa, Asia, and parts of Oceania in recent years. It poses a significant threat to maize (corn), one of the world's staple crops, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.

Identification:

Larvae (Caterpillars):The most damaging stage. They are usually brownish with stripes along their bodies and an inverted "Y"-shaped mark on their heads.
Adults (Moths): Grayish-brown in color, active at night, and capable of flying long distances (up to 100 km in a night).

Life Cycle:

Egg Stage: Laid in clusters on the underside of leaves.
Larval Stage: Feeds aggressively on leaves, stems, and reproductive parts of maize.
Pupal Stage:Pupates in the soil.
Adult Moth: Emerges to mate and lay eggs, repeating the cycle (typically lasts 30–40 days).

Damage in Maize:
Leaf damage:Larvae chew long holes and leave ragged edges.
Whorl damage: In early growth stages, larvae burrow into the maize whorl (central leaf shoot).
Ear damage: Older larvae feed on maize ears, leading to reduced yield and quality.
Yield losses: This pest can cause 20–100% yield loss, depending on the infestation level and crop stage.

Spread and Invasion:
First reported outside the Americas in Africa in 2016, it has since spread to over 70 countries across Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Its rapid spread is due to strong flying ability and wide host range (over 250 plant species).

Management Strategy:

Monitoring and Early Detection: Use pheromone traps and regular field scouting.

Cultural Practices: Timely planting, Intercropping (e.g., with legumes)and removal of crop residues post-harvest.


Biological Control: Natural enemies like parasitoids (Trichogramma spp.), predators (lady beetles, spiders), and pathogens (entomopathogenic fungi and viruses).

Chemical Control: Use of selective insecticides (rotate to avoid resistance). Application at early larval stages for effectiveness.

Biotechnological Methods: Genetically modified (GM) maize varieties (Bt maize) are effective in some regions but face regulatory and public acceptance challenges.

#insects
#caterpillar
#invasion
#pests
#pestcontrol
#agriculture
#cereal
#maize
#corn
#youtubevideos
#viralvideo