Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall ArmyWorm)

Features of Identification:

• Fall armyworm (FAW) is an invasive insect pest causing serious damage to maize at all stages of its growth.

• The forewing of adult male moth consists of fawn coloured spot and a white patch at the apical margin of the wing while female moths are less distinctly marked ranging from uniform grayish brown to a fine mottling of grey and brown.

• The female moths lay egg masses on upper or under side of the leaf and covered with tan coloured scale.

• The adult moth can fly up to 500 km before oviposition.

   

Damage:

• FAW attacks all stages of maize crop from seedling emergence to ear development.

• The young larvae of FAW feed in and around the whorl leaves by scraping and skeletonizing the upper epidermis leaving a silvery transparent membrane resulting into papery spots.

• The damage also results in pinhole symptoms on the leaves. Older larvae remain and feed inside the whorl.

• The damages by late instars (4th instar onwards) result in extensive defoliation of leaves and presence of large amounts of fecal pellets in whorls.

• Damage during vegetative stage leads to leaf damage but if damage happens during reproductive stage it may damage tassels or may bore inside the corn ear and eat away the kernels.

The whorl damage by FAW results in significant yield losses while ear feeding results in both quality and yield reduction.


Control Measure:

Install APS Funnel trap with APS FAW-L Lure at 5-8nos per acre on or before germination of the crop to monitor pest arrival and population build-up.
 

​Pheromone Lure Details