The fall armyworm

Combating of fall armyworms with beneficial Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes /  by Ganpati Jagdale

How Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes will kill the fall armyworms?

When Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes are applied to the pasture fields, they will actively search for all the soil-dwelling larval and pupal stages of fall armyworms. After locating larva or pupa, nematodes will enter into their body cavity through the natural openings like anus, mouth and spiracles. In the body cavity, nematodes will release symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophila) in the blood where bacteria will multiply quickly, cause septicemia and kill both larva and pupa within 48 hours of infection. Thus the killing of both larvae and pupae completely stops the emergence of next generation of adult fall armyworms.

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Kill fall armyworms now and stop their northward migration during spring /  by Ganpati Jagdale

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda is one of the most economically important pests of different plant species including corn, sorghum, forage, and turf grasses.  Although fall armyworm larvae actively damage crops throughout the United States during growing season, they generally die when harsh winter begins in northern, central and eastern United States. Then question arises how they could re-infest fields and cause damage to the crops grown in these areas during spring and summer again.

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Control of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda with entomopathogenic nematodes /  by Ganpati Jagdale

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is considered as an economically important pest of corn in Brazil.  Entomopathogenic nematodes have a potential to include as biological control agents in the integrated pest management (IPM) programs to control the armyworm.  Recently, Negrisoli et al. (2010a) reported that several insecticides including Chlorpyrifos, Deltamethrin, Llufenuron, Deltramethrin + Triazophos, Diflubenzuron, Gamacyhalothrin, Lambdacyhalothrin, Spinosad, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, Triflumuron and Permethrin were compatible with the three species of entomopathogenic nematodes including Heterorhabditis indica, Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema glaseri under laboratory conditions.  Furthermore, it has been also reported that the efficacy of an entomopathogenic nematode, H. indica was enhanced against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda when mixed with an insecticide, Lufenuron (Negrisoli et al., 2010b). Read following research papers on compatibility of entomopathogenic nematodes with insecticides.

Negrisoli, A.S., Garcia, M.S. and Negrisoli, C.R.C.B. 2010a.  Compatibility of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida) with registered insecticides for Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory conditions. Crop Protection. 29: 545-549

Negrisoli, A.S., Garcia, M.S., Negrisoli, C.R.C.B., Bernardi, D. and da Silva, A. 2010b.  Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida) and insecticide mixtures to control Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in corn. Crop Protection. 29: 677-683.