INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM (SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA) IN MAIZE CROP

Abstract

Fall armyworm is an important pest of maize crop and native of America. Fall armyworm distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of many countries in the World. Eggs, larva, pupae & adults are the 4 stages of life -cycle. Eggs are covered with grey -pink colour layer. Larvae are 35-90mm long in size. The size of male & female pupae are 1.3 to 1.5 cm & 1.6 to 1.7 cm. grey, light brown & silver colour wings are observed in fall armyworm. The larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae feed by scrapping green tissue of leaves & grown up larvae feed large amount of leaf tissues. Window pane like damage should be observed on leaves area. Fall armyworm affects on leaf corn and all sweet tissue part of the maize crop. Deep ploughing before onset of rains & wide sowing practices is best cultural practices for the management of all armyworm. Using of sex pheromone traps @2traps/acre at the time of sowing & hand picking and squashing of eggs are also found effective to control fall armyworm. Spraying of azadirachtin 1 Ec @2ml/liters of water, Emmamectin benzoate 5 SG @0.5g/liters of water, Chlorpyriphos 50% + Cypermetharin 5% Ec. @2ml/liters of water, lambada-Cyhalothrin 5% EC. @2ml/liters of water should be found effective chemical control on armyworm.