Maize is one of the cereals most consumed by households in Niger. Its production remains marginal despite the efforts made in hydro-agricultural development both around the Niger River and in the interior of the country. The detection of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) in 2016 in Niger, followed by its rapid spread where in less than a year it has spread over almost the entire national territory is not without consequence on the yields of the but already very low in the main production areas. As a result, maize production is increasingly being abandoned in the southern agricultural zone of Niger. In fact, this caterpillar has become a major pest of maize because of the significant damage observed on this crop during its growth and development cycle. This situation calls for research to be conducted to help maize producers better manage this pest. The objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge and management of FAW by maize farmers in the southern agricultural zone of Niger. A survey was conducted in July and August 2020 on a sample of 408 farmers in this zone using an individual questionnaire designed and integrated into the ODK data collection software. The results obtained showed that 93% of the producers recognize FAW through its morphology and the aspects of its damage; 53.25% estimate that the attack rate is very high and 60.75% of the producers use pesticides in the management of this pest against only 1.5% who use biopesticides. These results clearly indicate the severity of FAW attacks on corn and the massive use of pesti-

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith), is a polyphagous pest reported in sub-Saharan Africa since 2016 and has expanded rapidly in almost Africa. In Niger, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) is considered like a major pest of maize, to which it causes significant damage, in a context where proven control methods against this moth remain almost non-existent. The objective of the present study was to determine the economic importance of FAW through the damage caused to the different host plants and to identify the parasitoids of this caterpillar. The study was conducted in the southern agricultural zone of Niger, specifically in the regions of Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua and Zinder. FAW eggs and caterpillars were collected from six villages in each region and then incubated and reared in the entomology laboratory of INRAN in Maradi. The rate of infestation of the different crops by FAW was determined as well as the observation of the beneficiaries. The results obtained indicate the presence of FAW on millet with an attack rate varying from 45.7% to 68%, sorghum with 47.2% to 62.25% and sesame with 9.7%. This work also revealed an oophagous parasitoid, Telenomus remus with 138 ± 23 and larval parasitoids, Cotesia sp with 16 ± 1 maximum number of individuals emerged from the collected material. Also, it was identified the parasitoid Cotesia icipe with a rate of parasitism from 4.6% to 5.75%; the Charops ater whose rate of parasitism varies from 4.5% and 12.25% but for Chelonus insularis with 17.25% and Tachnidae with 53%. These very interesting results will constitute a basis for the development of biological control