A Review on Invasion and Management of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) in Nepal

Abstract

Nepal faces a significant risk of invasive species posing a direct threat to food security and native biodiversity. With the potentiality of causing a considerable loss in yield and quality, invasive pest species can lead to significant damage in the Nepalese agricultural sector. Fall armyworm is a polyphagous, transboundary invasive pest that invaded Nepal in August 2019. They have a wide host range, the potentiality to establish rapidly and are highly migratory. Maize is the major host of fall armyworm which comes second in terms of production and area cultivated in Nepal. Spread and establishment of this pest are enhanced during the monsoon season of the country with favorable climate and temperature. This review presents an introductory pathway of the invasive pest, biology, lifecycle, status, and management of fall armyworm in Nepal. Integrated pest management can be the best approach for the management of this pest. Control of this invasive pest requires early monitoring, scientific research, and management strategy with awareness, knowledge, and technical support to Nepalese farmers.

Inventory of Host Plants and Parasitoids of the Fall Armyworm (FAW), <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (JE Smith), in the Southern Agricultural Zone of Niger

“…These include [35], they listed that the caterpillar can feed on more than 60 species of plants [36] [37]. This is for [38] more than 80 host species, causing severe damage to cereal and vegetable crops [22] [39] [40] [41]. It was found by [16] also that FAW is a polyphagous and voracious pest that damages several crops of about 76 plants with more than 106 plant species in the family Poacecae, 31 Fabaceae and 31 Asteraceae [42].…”

The capacity of Trichogramma chilotraeae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to parasitize Spodoptera frugiperda reared with natural diet vs artificial diet vs alternate host

“…However, Nurkomar et al [6] reported that some areas of Yogyakarta had a low level of S. frugiperda infestation. Even so, the presence of S. frugiperda requires serious attention since it potentially causes severe damage [7].…”

Susceptibility of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to natural products and entomopathogenic fungi

“…Smith) has recently become an invasive pest in Africa, the Far East, and North America (Jamil, et al 2021; Montezano et al 2018). It's a voracious pest that attacks sorghum, corn, sugarcane, forage grasses, turf grasses, cotton, rice, and peanuts (Anjorin et al 2022; Sarkowi and Mokhtar, 2021;Naharki et al 2020). The polyphagous pest S. frugiperda was rst detected in the corn growing area Cagayan Valley, Philippines (Navasero et al 2019).…”

“…A high reproductive rate and fast development of the insect were demonstrated when fed with young corn leaves. Corn is the most important main cereal crop grown by the small farmer (Grote et al, 2021;Naharki et al, 2020;Macauley 2015). Approximately 90% of corn production is used as food in many countries, particularly in Africa (Onu et al 2018).…”