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Pheromone Lure of Fall Armyworm
Target Plants: Maize
Trap to be used: Funnel Trap Number of traps per Acre: 7 - 8 Life of Lure: 60 Days |
Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)
Identification, Life Cycle and Nature of Damage
100-200 eggs are generally laid on the underside of the leaves typically near the base of the plant. Eggs are pale green or white at the beginning and turn clear brown to brown before hatching. They hatch within 2 – 3 days. After hatching the young caterpillars feed on the undersides of leaves. Feeding results in semitransparent patches on the leaves. Young caterpillars can spin silken threads which catch the wind and transport the caterpillars to a new plant. Feeding is more active during the night. There are 6 larvae stages. Young larvae are pale colored. They become brown to pale green, they darker at the latest stages. The larval stage lasts for 12 – 20 days depending on ambient temperature and other environmental conditions. Fully grown caterpillar is generally characterized by 3 yellow strips on the back, followed by a black, then a yellow strip on the side. The head is dark and it shows a typical upside down Y-shaped pale marking on the front. Stage 3-6 does the most damage, resulting in ragged holes in the leaves. Feeding on young plants can kill the growing point resulting in no new leaves or cobs developing. Often only 1 or 2 caterpillars found in each whorl, as they become cannibalistic when larger and will eat each other to reduce competition for food. After approximately 14 days, the fully grown caterpillar will drop to the ground and burrow 2-8 cm into the soil before pupating. The loose silk oval shape cocoon is 20-30 mm in length. The pupa is dark brown and lives 12 – 14 days before an adult emerges. The moth is 3 to 4 cm wide. Its front wings are dark brown while the rare wings are grey white. It will live 2 to 3 weeks before dying.
100-200 eggs are generally laid on the underside of the leaves typically near the base of the plant. Eggs are pale green or white at the beginning and turn clear brown to brown before hatching. They hatch within 2 – 3 days. After hatching the young caterpillars feed on the undersides of leaves. Feeding results in semitransparent patches on the leaves. Young caterpillars can spin silken threads which catch the wind and transport the caterpillars to a new plant. Feeding is more active during the night. There are 6 larvae stages. Young larvae are pale colored. They become brown to pale green, they darker at the latest stages. The larval stage lasts for 12 – 20 days depending on ambient temperature and other environmental conditions. Fully grown caterpillar is generally characterized by 3 yellow strips on the back, followed by a black, then a yellow strip on the side. The head is dark and it shows a typical upside down Y-shaped pale marking on the front. Stage 3-6 does the most damage, resulting in ragged holes in the leaves. Feeding on young plants can kill the growing point resulting in no new leaves or cobs developing. Often only 1 or 2 caterpillars found in each whorl, as they become cannibalistic when larger and will eat each other to reduce competition for food. After approximately 14 days, the fully grown caterpillar will drop to the ground and burrow 2-8 cm into the soil before pupating. The loose silk oval shape cocoon is 20-30 mm in length. The pupa is dark brown and lives 12 – 14 days before an adult emerges. The moth is 3 to 4 cm wide. Its front wings are dark brown while the rare wings are grey white. It will live 2 to 3 weeks before dying.
