Fall armyworm

Nome científico: Spodoptera frugiperda

Crops: corn, soybean, bean, cotton, wheat, rice, tomato, among others.

Damage: Caterpillars of this species attack both the plant structures and reproductive features. In corn plants, damages start when the caterpillars scrape the leaves, making them transparent. As they develop, the caterpillars migrate to the cartridge causing defoliation, but they can also attack the corncobs. It is possible to observe secretions of the caterpillars on the plants.

Behavior:

• Eggs are laid on the superior part of the leaves and are covered by the moth scales.
• Caterpillars in the first instars disperse on around the plants toward the new leaves in the cartridge.
• Spodoptera frugiperda is a cannibal species and it’s common to find only a single caterpillar in the cartridge.
• At the end of the larval stage, caterpillars move down and penetrate the soil to start the pupal stage.

Larval stage of Spodoptera frugiperda Photo: ProMIP

Plant severely attacked by Spodoptera frugiperda Photo: Grupo Cultivar

Spodoptera frugiperda attacking a corncob Photo: J.E. Smith

Eggs of Spodoptera frugiperda Photo: Mateus Valdir Muller

Adult of Spodoptera frugiperda Photo: Pherobio

Control

Ferramenta altamente eficiente no controle da Spodoptera frugiperda

Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopalyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) is a biological for the control of fall armyworm used in post-emergence in the inundative in all crops with the occurrence of this pest.