Fall Armyworm: A Comprehensive Guide for Maize Growers

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) threatens maize crops globally. Effective management is crucial to safeguard yields and ensure food security.

Symptoms

Larvae feed on leaves, stems, and reproductive parts, resulting in windowpane damage, ragged holes, and frass in the whorls, causing yield loss.

1. Cultural Control

Synchronize planting with other fields to avoid peak pest periods and Intercropping with non-host crops like beans, reduce infestation.

2. Biological Control

Encourage beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, predatory beetles and Use products based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or neem.

3. Physical Control

Use traps to monitor adult moth populations and Regularly inspect fields for early signs of infestation and take prompt action.

4. Chemical Control

Apply recommended insecticides like Delegate, Coragen at the early stages of infestation. Rotate chemicals to prevent resistance.

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