Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FIRST REPORT OF FALL ARMYWORM, SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA (J.E.SMITH), AN INVASIVE PEST ON MAIZE AND SORGHUM IN HARYANA, INDIA

Ankit Kumar, Maha Singh Jaglan, Yogesh Kumar and Surender Singh Yadav

Abstract

The occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is reported for the first time on maize and sorghum in Haryana (India). During the field visits the crop was found infested with distinguished damage symptoms. The per cent plant infestation was very high with window holes and saw dust like frass on leaves and whorl. The larvae were found on damaged plants and later on collected and reared in insect rearing laboratory, Department of Entomology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University-Hisar for identification and further studies. The pest is identified as fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) as per morphological characters observed. This is the first confirmed report for invasion of fall armyworm to cause severe damage in maize and sorghum crop in Haryana, India.