Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

Author(s):
Sonika Sharma and Talwinder Kaur

Abstract:
Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly known as fall army worm (FAW) holds considerable importance among devastating pests in terms of crop yield loss and negative impacts on the economies of both developing as well as developed countries. This alien invasive insect feeds on more than 350 host plant species in addition to maize crop. Moreover due to its voracious nature, this pest (native to North and South America) has spread other continents also (Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia) and therefore has become a major threat to maize crop. In Asia, FAW was first reported in India in mid-2018 in the maize fields of South Karnataka where it invaded the maize fields within a short period of two months. Now it has been widely spread across other Asian countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal. The FAW is difficult to control, manage, or eradicate by the use of any single method, because this pest is polyphagous in nature, multiplies fast, has a short life cycle and migrates at very fast rate, and lacks the diapause growth phase. Moreover, the unsuccessful and misuse of pesticides to control FAW has led to emergence of resistance, resurgence and increased production. Thus, it has become challenge for the scientific community and administrators to develop management strategies to control or destroy the pest. The longterm management and keeping the pest population below economically injury level is essential because it is practically impossible to completely eradicate the pest. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop ecologically sustainable, socially acceptable and economically profitable integrated pest management strategies to control FAW in India and Asia. In view of this, the present review focuses on its life cycle and different management strategies (cultural, physical, mechanical, botanical and chemical methods) to conquer the pest from causing economic damage in maize.