Seasonal Periodicity of Fall Armyworm, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Caribbean Basin and Northward to Canada

Abstract

Sex pheromone traps were used to monitor the seasonal periodicity of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), moth over a 2-year period at eight locations from French Guiana northward to Canada. Results indicated a seasonal progression of movement by fall armyworm from the southern most locations in the United States into Canada. Although the fall armyworm survives throughout the year in the Caribbean Basin, analysis of moth capture and meteorological data for the region provided no direct evidence that this reservoir of continuous populations contributed significantly to the influx of this pest into the temperate regions of North America where it normally does not survive the winter. Weather disturbances along the Atlantic seaboard of the northeastern U.S. and Canada in October 1984 and an associated precipitous decline in moth captures in pheromone traps supports a previous hypothesis of a return (southward) migration by fall armyworm.

Seasonal Distribution of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Host Strains in Agricultural and Turf Grass Habitats

“…Pheromone traps are a convenient means of obtaining a "snapshot" of the adult fall armyworm population density at a given time and place , Mitchell et al 1991). Captured male adults will reßect both the local resident population as well as transients migrating through the region.…”

“…This means that the infestation of much of the United States originates entirely from populations overwintering in southern Florida, southern Texas, and northern Mexico (Luginbill 1928, Mitchell 1979, Sparks 1979). Population surveys in southern Florida indicate a rise in the fall armyworm population in the spring, followed by a rapid and prolonged decline during the summer months , Mitchell et al 1991. This decline corresponds to, and presumably reßects, the northward migration of this population into northern Florida and southern Georgia in April and May (Snow andCopeland 1969, Greene et al 1971), which continues into the northern states by July and August (Mitchell 1979).…”

Optimization of a pheromone lure for Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) in Central America

“…The high migratory ability of S. frugiperda in North America would be expected to maintain homogeneous populations within North America 7 . A study of population fluctuation of S. frugiperda from the French Guyana to Canada suggested migration from the Caribbean region to North America was not significant 8 .…”

On-Plant Larval Movement and Feeding Behavior of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Reproductive Corn Stages

“…In the United States, it has been described as an important yield-limiting pest in southern cornfields (Buntin et al 2004, Chilcutt et al 2007, Hardke et al 2011). This species does not diapause over winter, being vulnerable to low winter temperatures, only surviving year-round in the subtropical climates in the southern regions of Florida and Texas (Sparks 1979, Buntin 1986, Mitchell et al 1991. Therefore, S. frugiperda populations migrate and reinvade corn crops in cooler regions of North America, including Canada, during the summer (Mitchell et al 1991, Nagoshi et al 2012.…”

“…This species does not diapause over winter, being vulnerable to low winter temperatures, only surviving year-round in the subtropical climates in the southern regions of Florida and Texas (Sparks 1979, Buntin 1986, Mitchell et al 1991. Therefore, S. frugiperda populations migrate and reinvade corn crops in cooler regions of North America, including Canada, during the summer (Mitchell et al 1991, Nagoshi et al 2012. Although fall armyworm can attack all corn stages (Flanders et al 2007, Cruz et al 2008, Knutson 2009), its injury is typically related to foliar consumption and indirect damage to grain production due to reduction in photosynthetic area (Cruz and Turpin 1983, Pitre and Hogg 1983, Buntin 1986, Melo and Silva 1987, Capinera 2000, Vilarinho et al 2011.…”