Biology of fall armyworm

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a voracious pest of various crops, especially grasses, such as maize, rice, and sugarcane, but also vegetables and cotton. Originally from the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, it recently spread around the world: it was found in São Tomé and Príncipe, Benin, Nigeria, and other African countries in 2016; in India in 2018; in China, South Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries in 2019; and in Australia in 2020. In China, it has infested many provinces, from south and southwest regions to the north-eastern ‘corn belt’. Recently, the species was also found in Cyprus. Fall armyworm adults can migrate long distances, which is likely an important factor in its success as a pest . In addition, larvae can disperse by crawling or ballooning (i.e., aerial dispersal using silk threads).

Fall armyworm populations can be resistant to a number of pesticide active substances . Therefore, integrated pest management (IPM) is important, relying on a combination of chemical, physical, and biological control. Commonly used tools for fall armyworm control consist of insecticides, including Bt products, and genetically modified Bt crops , and the search for new insecticides continues . Push-pull companion cropping is also being investigated as a potential control method . Various compounds of the female’s sex pheromones, released to attract conspecific males, have been identified, and a commercial lure is available to monitor and/or trap fall armyworm .

Interestingly, fall armyworm is able to detoxify specific defense compounds in maize, as well as suppress maize defense mechanisms . Indeed, its gut microbes impact defense responses . Therefore, fall armyworm’s microbiota may also contribute to its status as an important pest world-wide . Interactions with other insects, such as competing herbivores and natural enemies, affect fall armyworm performance. In its native region, fall armyworm is a host to a large variety of parasitoid wasps and flies , some of which are commercially available . The species is also frequently attacked by predators, fungi, viruses, and entomopathogenic nemathodes . It is important to monitor the presence of natural enemies in invasive areas, to assess their potential as biological control agents.

Reference: de Lange ES, Xiao Y & Beukeboom LW (2023) Biology of fall armyworm – an introduction. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 171: 488–491. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13324

Error

Tags: fall armyworm insect pest

Biology of fall armyworm

Maria YEROKHOVA

China’s Surge in Russian Grain Imports: Trends, Implications, and Future Prospects

Newsletter

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture Sets Minimum Prices for Summer and Regional Products: Implications for Farmers

ACCC Concerned Over Olam Agri’s Acquisition of Namoi Cotton

Wheat Protein Ingredient Market: Projected Growth and Emerging Trends Through 2034

Identifying Common Wheat Defects: Fusarium Head Blight, Mildew, and Imperfect Grains

Optimism Returns to Canadian Prairies as Weather Conditions Improve

Celebrating 25 Years of the Australian Grains Industry Conference

Unlocking Wheat’s Genetic Armor: New Research Aims to Strengthen Resistance to Devastating Fungal Diseases

Pakistan Faces Looming 5 Million Ton Wheat Shortfall as Sowing Area Declines

Government Initiatives to Mitigate Wheat Price Hike: An Insight into India’s Market Strategy

Russian Farmers Turn Away from Wheat: What It Means for Global Markets and Local Agriculture

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password