Control Measures: Integrated Pest Management

As fall armyworm (FAW) possess the ability to cause significant crop yield losses and a threat to food security; hence the management and control strategies need to be practice with utmost priority and caution. Furthermore, as the trade and transportation proliferate around the globe, the infested region continues to serve as a hub of dispersal of FAW pest around the globe. If the pest reaches the environmentally and geographically suitable conditions, the species can survive year-round with continuous expansion and pose a severe threat to global food security. On the contrary, being an invasive species with high reproductive capacity, the pest still presents certain areas of weakness such as the absence of diapause and vulnerability to natural enemies which could be utilized for planning management strategies. Meanwhile, the unaffected area needs to proceed forward with caution while practicing quarantine strategies wherever required. Also, the concerned stakeholders from affected and unaffected areas should come forward to build knowledge bases which could assist national and regional pest risk assessments and appropriate control measures of this devastating pest as enumerated below;

• Pheromonal Control
  • Survey & Monitoring
  • Mass Trapping
  • Mating Disruption
• Biological Control
• Biotechnological Control
• Chemical Control
  • Seed Treatment
  • Foliar/Whorl Applications

However, based in the global experiences, the Integrated Pest Management, IPM triangle is an outline of best practices to be followed by farmers to avoid any unforeseen events due to FAW infestation. Following illustration demonstrates the integrated pest management (IPM) as a holistic solution to fall armyworm.

Adherence to responsible agricultural practices, besides integrated pest management plans, can help the farmers avoid or detect and eradicate early stage FAW infestations.

Revised Package of Practices (POPs) for Maize Farmers 2020

• Seed Treatment: Always use maize seeds treated with Cyntraniliprole 19.8% + Thiamethoxam 19.8% FS @ 6 ml/Kg seed
• Village-wide Approach: Timely & Synchronized sowing of quality seeds
• Good Agricultural Practices: Always follow good agri practices by SAUs / ICAR/Agri Dept
• Install Pheromone Trap: Install 4-5 pheromone traps/acre for mass trapping & bird perches, regularly monitor for adult moth, and scout for pest incidence and plant damage at early stage
• Action Window 1: Destroy egg mass/neonates larvae and apply foliar spray 5% NSKE / Azadirachtin1500ppm @ 5 ml/litre of water & other recommended biologicals. In case of heavy significant, apply Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC (Coragen/Cover/Vesticore etc) @ 0.4 ml/litre of water or Chlorantraniliprole 9.3% + Lambdacyhalothrin 4.6% ZC @ 0.5 ml/litre of water or Emamectin benzoate 5 % SG @ 0.8 gm/litre of water or Spinetoram 11.7% w/w SC @ 0.5 ml/litre of water
• Action Window 2: During mid-whorl to late whorl stage, scout for larvae and plant damage & incase of need, go for whorl spray either Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC (Coragen/Cover/Vesticore etc) @ 0.4 ml/litre of water or Chlorantraniliprole 9.3% + Lambdacyhalothrin 4.6% ZC @ 0.5 ml/litre of water or Emamectin benzoate 5 % SG @ 0.8 gm/litre of water or Spinetoram 11.7% w/w SC @ 0.5 ml/litre of water
• Action Window 3: Tasseling and post tasseling stage, insecticide application is not cost effective & therefore farmers are advised not to spray pesticides