Observation on Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Maize Under Laboratory Conditions
Muhammad Ramzan, Ilahi Haroon, Muhammad, Adnan, Aziz Ullah, Atta Ullah
Abstract
Spodoptera frugiperda is native to tropical and subtropical areas of the world and consider an invasive species in Pakistan since 2019. It is spreading continuously and become a threat to horticultural as well as agricultural crops especially maize all over the world. The developmental duration of each S. frugiperda stage was recorded on maize leaves under laboratory conditions. The embryonic period was 2.32 ± 0.22 days. The developmental duration of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th larval instars were 2.37, 2.09, 2.01, 2.02, 2.27 and 5.10 days, respectively while the total larval period was 14-16 days. Female was long-lived as compared to male. The current study concluded that Fall armyworm, S. frugiperda is a primary pest and threat to vegetative as well as reproductive parts of maize crop which cause significant economic losses.