Abstract

Fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a polyphagous crop pest native to America and later reported in West Africa in 2016. The larval stage is the most devastating in nature affecting the production of 353 species of crops with 70 percent yield loss in the overall economy. The pests are found to thrive in the temperature above 10 degree Celsius and the wings of moths are deformed above 30 degree Celsius. The cultural method are most effective method which contribute 56 percent of the pest management where push and pull method control 82.6 percent larvae per plant. Seed powder of Azadirachta indica, was found to control 70 percent larval mortality in lab whereas Nicotiana tobacum and Lippia javanica controlled the larvae by 66 percent in contact toxicity. Metarhizium anisopliae, a bio-control agent control the egg and neonate larvae by 87 percent and 96.5 percent. Chloropyrifos mixed with saw dust controls 20 percent of the pest and spinosad has effect with 90 percent larval mortality. An agro-advisory at large scale can play an indispensable role to minimize the incidence of the fall armyworm and help smallholder farmers to take the precautions on time reducing the possible crop loss. Integrated pest management is best for the management strategy of the fall armyworm.

Keywords: fall armyworm, incidence, integrated pest management, species, strategies