Fall Armyworm, an Invasive Pest Threatens Maize Farming

Abstract

Maize is an important cereal crop and the grains are used for human consumption and as poultry feed. At present, maize cultivation is threatened by an invasive pest, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J E. Smith), in India. It infests the maize crop throughout its duration and causes huge economic loss. Farmers face the problem in managing the pest as it is an invasive one. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University advocates an IPM technology capsule to contain the pest population in maize. This capsule has been designed to target all the stages of life cycle of the pest.