Abstract
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), commonly known as maize destructor is an exotic pest that has been migrated to Pakistan recently. In the present investigation, a total of 198 corn fields from different localities of Lahore and Kasur region of Pakistan, were surveyed after the published reports of fall armyworm presence in other parts of the country. Out of the total spots observed, the fall armyworm occurrence was spotted on ten variable locations. The highest level of infestation recorded was 19.39 % followed by 18.69 % while the lowest damage in percentage was 9.28. The present study was also directed to investigate the mortality factors in a lab-based experiment on the life table study of fall armyworm. A sub-lethal dose of 4µl of entomopathogenic NPV suspension containing 4×106 polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB) was tested as a mortality factor against the late larval instars of S. frugiperda when natural mortality tends to decrease after each successive instar. The single-sex method was adopted in the construction of the life table. The ratio of mortality in the late instars (3rd to 5th) was greater than the early instars because of entomopathogenic treatment. The survivorship curve explicated that the 4th to 6th instar larvae, being more voracious, could be destructive for the maize crop if not managed properly. A large number of survivors could enhance the number of individuals in the next generation.
Muhammad Arslan Ibrahim, Aneeqa Aleem, Farkhanda Manzoor, Shahbaz Ahmad, Hafiz Muhammad Zahid Anwar, Talia Aroob, Mansoor Ahmad. (2021) Mortality Dynamics of Exotic Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Journal of Innovative Sciences, Volume 7, Issue 1.
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