SEASONAL INCIDENCE OF FALL ARMY WORM SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA IN MAIZE

Abstract

The fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) is a polyphagous invasive pest, initially reported from Karnataka. A roving survey was conducted during two cropping seasons at fortnightly interval during kharif and rabi of 2019-20 to know the status of the pest in Haveri district. The results revealed that the larval counts and % infestation was 0.30 to 0.44 larvae/ plant and 23.10 to 33.77%, respectively. Parasitisation by two larval parasitoids viz., Campoletis chlorideae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Exorista xanthaspis (Diptera: Tachinidae) and infection by an entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium rileyi were also observed.