Seasonal variations in fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda and its natural enemies on maize Warkad T.P., Bhede B.V.*, Shinde G.S. Department of Agricultural Entomology, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani - 431 402, Maharashtra, India *Corresponding author's E-mail: bvb1093@gmail.com, bvb1093@rediffmail.com
Online Published on 29 December, 2021. Abstract The larval population of fall armyworm ranged from 0.20 to 1.60 larvae/plant. The maximum larval population (1.60/plant) and damaged plant (82.50%) was noticed during third week of March (11th SMW). The larval population gradually increased at the end of crop season reaching to 1.60 larvae/plant during third week of March. The lowest damaged plants was noticed at the start of season and increased reaching peak at the crop maturity (50th SMW). The damaged plants ranged from 20 to 82.50% during December to March months. The infested cobs were ranged from 14.50 to 46.50%. The grub and adult population of coccinellid ranged from 0.10 to 0.60 per plant during December to March. The maximum population of coccinellid was observed in 11th SMW (third week of March). The adult population of predatory bugs ranged from 0.10 to 0.70/plant which appeared in third week of December (51th SMW). The highest population (0.70/plant) was noticed in second week of March (11th SMW). The earwig population (0.15/plant) first appeared in third week of January (3rd SMW). The maximum population (1.20/plant) was recorded during second week of March (10th SMW). The parasitized larvae due to various parasitoids and fungus infected larvae were ranged between 20.00 to 47.50% and 5.00 to 25.00%, respectively. The maximum parasitization and fungus infected larvae were noticed during March. The coefficient of determination (R2 Value) was 0.941, 0.881, 0.675, 0.803, 0.968, 0.976 and 0.957 for fall armyworm larval population, infested plants, coccinellids, predatory bugs, earwig, fungus infected larvae and parasitized larvae, respectively. Top Keywords Coccinellid, Fall army worm, Grub, Maize, Population. Top |