STUDIES ON SPREAD AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF FALL ARMYWORM, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) WITHIN THE MAIZE FIELD AND ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICACY OF SEED TREATMENT FOR ITS MANAGEMENT
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Date
2020-12-20
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
Abstract
Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a serious pest of maize all
around the world. This pest also has been reported recently from India in 2018. The spread
and distribution behaviour of the pest along with the efficacy of seed treatment for its
management was estimated in the current study. Distribution of S. frugiperda larvae in the
field followed both negative binomial and Poisson distribution. Negative binomial distribution
was the best fit in case of early instar caterpillars whereas, the late instar caterpillars showed
best fit towards random distribution. The distribution analysis in caged condition indicated the
non-directional movement of S. frugiperda larvae. The larvae moved from artificially infested
plant in different directions and maximum distance travelled was 1.5m.With regard to efficacy
of seed treatment, maize seeds treated with diamides resulted in 100 per cent mortality of first
and third instar caterpillars at 7 DAE in laboratory bioassays. Chlorantraniliprole 62.5 FS
exhibited superior and long-lasting effect with 29.9 per cent and 24 per cent mortality of first
and third instar larvae of S. frugiperda, respectively at 35 DAE. When insecticide treated seeds
were sown in the field, the least leaf damage was observed in seed treatment with
chlorantraniliprole 62.5 FS followed by cyantraniliprole 19.8% + thiamethoxam 19.8% FS.
Spinetoram followed by chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate were found effective in
case of foliar spray. The present study revealed seed treatment with diamides as an economic
and effective alternative to multiple insecticide sprays for the management of S. frugiperda.