Fall armyworm faw, one of the most important pests of maize in latin america. Crop stages most affected by fall armyworm in ghana and zambia crop stage most affected ghana zambia emergenceseedling early stage 57% 10% vegetative mid stage 43% 84% flowering 0% 5% post floweringlate stage 0% 1% total 100% 100%. The larvae, which are marked with a distinct inverted y on the front of the head, feed on a wide variety of plants, and are a particular problem in fall seeded alfalfa and wheat. True armyworms appear in the spring, while fall armyworms see image appear in august and september following a wet summer. Controlling fall armyworms on lawns and turf alabama. African armyworm outbreaks tend to be devastating for farmland and pasture in these areas, with the highestdensity outbreaks occurring during the rainy season after periods of prolonged drought. The fall armyworm spodoptera frugiperda is a species in the order of lepidoptera and is the larval life stage of a fall armyworm moth. This represents a range of 21%53% of the annual production of maize averaged over a three year period in these countries. Armyworms are grayish brown caterpillars that can grow to 114 inches. Unlike numerous other migrant species, fall armyworm does not possess a capability to enter diapause, a dormant state which allows insects to survive extendedperiods ofinhospitableconditions including. Field monitoring is important in btcotton because fall armyworm populations may develop, particularly on blooms and late in the season on stressed cotton where the bt toxin production. Larva there usually are six instars in fall armyworm.
During the summer months, fall armyworms remain in the caterpillar stage for around 10 to 14 days, but young caterpillars eat very little, and their damage is easy to overlook. The eggs are sometimes deposited in layers, but most eggs are spread over a single. A guide for integrated pest management 9 acknowledgements iii this publication on fall armyworm in africa. The fall armyworm s life cycle is completed within 30 days during summer, and 60 days during the spring and autumn seasons. During the long dry seasons offseason, the population densities are very low and no outbreaks are seen. Biology and distribution of fall armyworm in ethiopia 1. This wheat planting season is at higher risk to fall armyworm than in most years for three reasons. The fall armyworm spodoptera frugiperda is a species in the order lepidoptera and is the larval life stage of a fall armyworm moth. Mar 05, 2020 fall armyworm faw, spodoptera frugiperda is an exotic pest that was detected in northern queensland in a maize crop in february 2020. The fall armyworm spodoptera frugiperda is the most common cause of damaged turfgrass on golf courses, athletic fields, and home landscapes.
During favorable seasons, a number of parasitic enemies keep fall armyworm larvae down to moderate numbers. Global warming may also be a factor in the fall armyworms rapid spread across the continent. Spread and impact of fall armyworm spodoptera frugiperda. Normally, only small numbers of this pest occur, usually on pastures. Fall armyworms resemble both armyworms and corn earworms. Fall armyworm faw, one of the most important pests of maize in latin america, suddenly appeared in africa in 2016 and spread rapidly.
Fall armyworm outbreaks in pastures and hay fields often occur following a rain which apparently creates favorable conditions. Fall armyworm adults moths have a wing span of about 1. Predators include various ground beetles, spined soldier bug, the insidious flower bug, and vertebrates such as birds, skunks, and rodents. Experienced cattle and hay producers know to look for fall armyworms throughout the growing season and to be ready to treat quickly. During favorable seasons, natural enemies can suppress fall armyworm populations. The fall armyworm is native to the tropical regions of the western hemisphere from the united states to argentina. Fall armyworm faw in africa has the potential to cause maize yield losses in a range from 8.
Fall armyworm larvae feed on many different plants vegetables, but prefer grasses and corn. Fall armyworms have a creamcolored upsidedown y on the fronts of their head capsules. Biology life cycle of fall armyworms consists of four stages including eggs, larvae caterpillars, pupae and adults. Smith, is a highly mobile insect pest of a wide range of host crops luginbill 1928. These caterpillars can destroy a cutting of bermudagrass in just a few days, and good bermudagrass can produce a few hundred dollars worth of hay per acre. It cannot overwinter in below freezing temperatures, so it only survives the winter in the most southern regions of the united states, namely texas and florida. Fall armyworm is a major insect pest in a wide range of crops including cotton, maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and vegetables.
Fall armyworm has a high reproductive rate and dispersive capability. The fall armyworm, spodoptera frugiperda, is a lepidopteran pest that feeds. The fall armyworm has not shown the ability to diapause so its ability to survive winter depends on the severity of the temperature. However, its occurrence and the resulting damage appear to have increased since 1995. During a growing season more stages, at the same time, will occur. Fall armyworm arrives in africa on the heels of climate change. The fall armyworm, so called because it eats its way through most of the vegetation in its way as it marches through crops, is native to north and south america but was identified for the first.
Females can produce up to 2,000 eggs in their lifetime. The fall armyworm has a set of four dark large spots on the upper surface. Fall armyworms can strike in most regions of the united states and seem to have been relatively serious during the past few years. Indeed, fall armyworm populations in west argentina occur in areas with substantially. This means that fighting faw is difficult, since most pest controls only work in the early larva stage. The fall armyworms life cycle is completed within 30 days during summer, and 60 days during the spring and autumn seasons. Combat armyworms in pastures and hay fields with insecticides. James locke, soils and crops consultant, shows you how to identify the fall armyworm caterpillar, signs of damage that you will see on grass or crops and available chemical treatments to control the pest. Fall armyworm is causing serious damage to maize and may effect other cropsincluding staple crops in the grass family such as sorghum, wheat, ryegrass, and pearl millet.
The fall armyworm is the insect that causes the most problems in golf courses. Fall armyworms in hayfields and pastures mississippi state. Fall armyworms, though, have a prominent inverted y mark on the front of the head. Hayroeb a usda ars center for medical, agricultural and veterinary entomology, insect behavior and biocontrol research unit, 1700 sw 23rd drive, gainesville, fl 32608, united states. Fall armyworms mississippi state university extension service.
The term armyworm can refer to several species, often describing the largescale invasive behavior of the species larval stage. Larger fall armyworm larvae consume large amounts of leaf tissue resulting in a ragged appearance to the leaves similar to grasshopper damage. Early detection works best and is achieved by frequent, thorough inspection of plants. Pdf forecasting the global extent of invasion of the cereal pest.
Fall armyworms are the most damaging insect pests of mississippi hayfields and. The fall armyworm has been a pest of turfgrass in north carolina for many years. Status and control measures of fall armyworm spodoptera. Spread and impact of fall armyworm spodoptera frugiperda j.
This insect pest is a serious threat to australias grain, rice, cotton, horticultural and sugar industries. Fall armyworms are the most damaging insect pests of mississippi hayfields and pastures. To make matters worse, in late 2017, a partial drought allowed the invasion of the fall armyworm, which has destroyed over 400,000 hectares of cereal crops in the maizedependent south east african country. Of these four species, the fall armyworm is the most common cause of damaged turfgrass 1 figure 1. Smith, were collected from sweet corn plants zea mays l. Forecasting the global extent of invasion of the cereal. The upper portion of the forewings are a mottled dark gray, with a distinctive white spot near the dorsal tip, or apex, of the wing, while the lower portion of the forewings is a light gray to brown color fig. State and federal biosecurity organisations have determined it to be unfeasible to eradicate this pest and it is now classified as an endemic pest. Fall armyworms feed any time of the day or night, but are most active early in the. Fields were sampled from 2010 to 2015 during the fall and spring seasons. It is regarded as a pest and can damage and destroy a wide variety of crops, which causes large economic damage. Abstract male fall armyworm moths spodoptera frugiperda j. Larval feeding and adult activity most frequently occurs at night, but can. The armyworm and the army cutworm north dakota state university fargo, north dakota 58105 april 2000 e830 revised armyworm and army cutworm feed on a wide variety of crops in north dakota.
The life cycle of the fall armyworm cycle completes every 2440 days depending on the temperature. Fall armyworms in hayfields and pastures mississippi. The african armyworm is a migratory moth, the larvae caterpillars of which are important pests of pastures and cereal crops, predominantly in africa south of the sahara, yemen, and certain countries of the pacific region. The fall armyworm is the insect that causes the most problems in golf courses and home landscapes.
Fall armyworm damage to a football field the larval stage figure 1 of armyworms can cause rapid,significant loss of leaf tissue in turfgrass. These are crops that farmers rely on across africa to feed their families. They attack most cool and warm season turfgrasses, and bermudagrass is the most common host. Fall armyworm in wheat integrated pest management programs. Fall armyworm damage to turf may vary in appearance and severity, according to grass type and maintenance practices. The fall armyworm is widely distributed in eastern and central north america and in south america. The fall armyworm is a strong flier, and disperses long distances annually during the summer months. During the following growing season, the insect disperses again. Noctuidae 2 duration of the egg stage is only two to three days during the summer months.
Though the names are similar, these two insects are distinct, feeding at different times of the growing season. Fall armyworm is one of the most serious pests of maize in the. One possibility therefore is that faw attack in africa could reduce damage caused by other pests. Estimates of crop losses due to faw are essential in order to compare the impact of these losses with the cost of controlling faw and advise appropriate technology dissemination and policy. In minnesota and new york, where fall armyworm moths do not appear until. Sep 22, 2016 if left untreated, fall armyworms spodoptera frugiperda can destroy a pasture or field of crops in a very short time. The fall armyworm also can be distinguished from true armyworms by the time of year they appear and their habit of remaining and feeding on the plant during the day. Fall armyworm spodoptera frugiperda is a new plant pest present in queensland but not yet detected in new south wales. Outbreaks seem to occur shortly after a rain or supplemental irrigation.
Milo, sweet corn, and field corn also are important hosts. Unlike armyworm, fall armyworm feeds during the day and night, but are usually most active in the morning or late afternoon. Pupae of fall armyworm are reddish brown to black in color. Biology the fall armyworm, spodoptera frugiperda j. However, areas with heavy fall armyworm pressure may occasionally require treatment. The number of generations a moth will have in a year varies based on climate, but in her life span a female will typically lay about 1,500 eggs. The armyworm and the army cutworm north dakota state university. Outbreaks of the true armyworm usually occur during the early part of the summer. Lead farmers filling the gap to combat drought, fall. A guide for integrated pest management is intended as a comprehensive, expertapproved, ipmbased technical guide that can be used as an uptodate decision. It normally overwinters successfully in the united states only in southern florida and southern texas. Smith, 1797, is the most important noctuid pest in the americas and has recently become an invasive pest in africa and in india. Oct 12, 2017 the fall armyworm has come at a time when farmers throughout rural africa are grappling with rising food insecurity because of climatic changes.
458 1351 812 666 1451 180 145 18 214 1043 1034 597 1305 466 1222 1349 1183 1332 1000 809 398 894 859 558 1071 1441 385 211 211 1178 222 997