Spodoptera frugiperda
Taxonomic position
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Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (fall armyworm)
is a serious pest of maize, turf and other crops in the American tropics and subtropics. It can cause outbreaks, defoliation and significant crop losses. On maize yield losses of more than 30% have been reported. The moths migrate to temperate regions during the spring and summer, but cannot survive long periods of cold temperature. The caterpillars feed on the young leaves and whorls. They might destroy the growing point of the plant. The life cycle from egg, through 5-6 larval stages, to mature adult lasts around 2 months. Two morphologically identical strains can be separated based on their preference for either maize and sorghum (corn strain) or rice and forage grasses (rice strain).
The larvae have a variable colour, green to brownish, with black, lateral stripes and grow to a length of 3-4½ cm. The adults are greyish-brown with a wingspan of 3-4 cm. The forewing is dark brown and has an oval and oblique middle spot but otherwise lacks distinctive markings. The hindwings are whitish with a brown outer margin and brown veins (in contrast to some related species).
| Vernacular names | |
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| • English: | fall armyworm |
| • Español: | gusano cogollero del maíz |
| • Français: | légionnaire d'automne |
| • Português: | bicho-de-rumo lagarta-da-folha-do-milho lagarta-do-cartucho |
For details see the respective page in BugwoodWiki.
- Other images of Spodoptera frugiperda (IPM Images - click to enlarge)
larva
larva
larva in a cotton boll
male adult
genitalia with short clavus
