Bio ecology of Spodoptera frugiperda J E Smith on Maize Zea mays L and its Management

Abstract

newline The present investigation on Bio-ecology of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) on Maize (Zea mays L.) and its Management was conducted at Instructional Farm and Department of Entomology, RCA, Udaipur during 2019 and 2020. newlineThe survey of S. frugiperda revealed that the mean infested field (%), pest infestation (%) and larvae per plant in Southern Rajasthan were 61.75, 98.61; 21.87, newline39.22 and 0.30, 0.50 during 2019 and 2020, respectively. S. frugiperda was found as major pest of maize during both the year. The peak larval population of S. frugiperda was observed in the first week of August (2.08 larvae/plant) and second week of August (2.47 larvae/plant) during 2019 and 2020, respectively. S. frugiperda larval population exhibited positively significant correlation with mean temperature, while negatively significant with rainfall during both the year. Two egg parasitoids viz., Trichogramma sp. and Telenomus sp.; four larval parasitoids viz., Cotesia sp., Chelonus sp., Microplitis sp. and Campoletis sp. and two entomopathogenic fungi viz., Beauveria sp. and Metarhizium sp. were recored as natural enemies of S. frugiperda. newlineThe peak incidence of stem borer was observed in the fourth week of August; maize aphid in second week of September and cob worm in third week of September during both the years. The peak population of grey weevil was recorded in second week of September and fourth week of August during 2019 and 2020 respectively. The larval population of stem borer showed significant negative correlation with temperature during 2020. Maize aphid population showed significant positive correlation with mean temperature and significant negative correlation with rainfall during both the year. Cob worm population had a significant negative correlation with rainfall and relative humidity during both the year. newlineThe peak population of coccinellids and green lacewing were observed in second week of September during both the years. The peak population of spider was observed in first week of September and third