Fall Armyworm attack the standing crops in Assam

Fall Armyworm attack the standing crops in Assam

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment 

In News:

• Fall armyworm attack on the standing crops in various districts of Assam has been reported recently.

Important value additions:

Fall armyworm

• Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is an insect. 
• It is widely distributed in Eastern and Central North America and in South America.  
• It has spread across the world because of trade and its strong flying ability. 
• India’s tropical climate could allow the pest to thrive and spread further.
• If not well managed, it can cause significant damage to crops in its larva stage . 
• It can affect large variety of species of crops, primarily maize. 
• It can be controlled with:
  • insecticides (like lambda-cyhalothrin)
  • through natural predators (such as coccinellid beetles 
  • by inter-cropping. 

Image source: Click here