Vol. 8, Special Issue 12, Part N (2024)

The global agriculture often faces new threats from invasive alien insect pests, pathogens, weeds etc. This requires immediate attention and co-operative action to manage the pest. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a notorious invasive pest infesting maize crop. In India the pest has been reported in Karnataka in the month of July, 2018 and subsequently in other states (Sharanabasappa et al., 2018). The larvae are voracious feeders and attack all parts of the maize crop (stem, leaves, cobs, tassels,) at all stages of the crop development (Shylesha et al., 2018). Managing this pest is very challenging due to the pest characteristics of high reproduction, absence of diapause, long distant flight, diverse pathways of spread coupled with favourable prevailing climatic conditions for its population build up (Sparks, 1979). The pest can persist in an area throughout the year where there is availability of alternative hosts and favourable temperatures. The pest threatens to Food and nutrition security, Feeds industry, Employment and Trade. As the pest S. frugiperda is polyphagous in nature, efforts are needed to manage the pest effectively and its further spread. This seminar provides an overview of the biology, spread and impact of the fall armyworm on maize crops, as well as current control measures and future research directions aimed at limiting its threat to global food security.