Fall armyworm

• Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a new invasive pest in India, damaging maize crop. The caterpillars mainly feed on young maize plants, cobs and tassel.
• They have also been recorded causing damage on sorghum and pearl millet (Bajra).

Scientific name

Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)

Identification Queries

• Does it have a dark head with an inverted Y-shape dmarking on the front (blue circle)?
• Does it have four dark spots forming a square towards end of the abdomen (red circle)?

Blue Circle

Red Circle

Damage Symptoms

• Fall armyworm caterpillars feed inside whorls on young plants.
• Young caterpillars feed by scrapping the leaves, resulting information of white, semi-transparent patches on the leaves.
• Damage by grown up larvae is characterized by torn appearance on leaves and presence of moist saw dust like frass near the whorls on upper leaves of the plant.
• Deep feeding in the whorl may destroy developing tassels.
• Caterpillars enter the cob and feed on developing kernels.

Fall armyworm damage symptoms on maize crop

Early instar larvae feed in the whorls and result in formation of small holes on leaves

Caterpillars feed on cobs

Young caterpillars feed by scrapping and produce semi-transparent patches on the leaves

Extensive damage to the leaves and frass is seen on the whorls

Larvae feed on developing kernel on the cob

Biology

Management

Natural Enemies