Using sex pheromone traps in the decision-making process for pesticide application against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda [Smith] [Lepidoptera: Noctuidae]) larvae in maize

• Published in: International journal of pest management Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 83 - 90
• Main Authors: Cruz, Ivan, Figueiredo, Maria de Lourdes Corrêa, Silva, Rafael Braga da, Silva, Ivana Fernandes da, Paula, Cristiane deSouza, Foster, John E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2012
• Subjects: chemical control; control methods; corn; crop yield; decision making; fall armyworm; integrated pest management; larvae; Lepidoptera; mortality; moths; Noctuidae; pesticide application; pests; pheromone trapping field; pheromone traps; sex pheromones; spinosad; Spodoptera frugiperda; Zea mays
• ISSN: 1366-5863; 0967-0874; 1366-5863
• DOI: 10.1080/09670874.2012.655702

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major pest of maize and frequently demands control measures. The timing of insecticide application is a key factor in determining its efficiency, so an experiment was designed to investigate this. Application of insecticide was based on three criteria: (i) the number of trap-caught moths in a Delta-type trap with a commercial sex pheromone lure placed in the center of the target area, soon after plant emergence; (ii) the percentage of plants exhibiting pinhole-type damage (10% or 20%) and (iii) the percentage of plants exhibiting shot hole-type damage (10% or 20%) compared to a check plot without any control measures. We found that the number of trap-caught moths was, compared to the other methods, the best means of deciding on insecticide application in maize to control the fall armyworm. Using pheromone traps, we obtained the best performance of the insecticide Spinosad, causing >90% larval mortality. Without insecticide application, maize yield reduction due to fall armyworm larva damage was 39%.