First report of Spodoptera frugiperda in India
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae – EPPO A1 List) has been identified for the first time in India. This is also a first record for Asia. In May 2018, the presence of the pest was noted in maize (Zea mays) fields within the campus of the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in Shivamogga, Karnataka. S. frugiperda was then observed in different districts of Karnataka. In August 2018, S. frugiperda was also reported in Andhra Pradesh. Damage and insect larvae were found in sweet maize grown at the farm of the Agricultural College of Tirupati, as well as in maize fields in the Pathasanambatla village (Chandragiri mandal, Chittoor district). On the Internet, records of S. frugiperda in other Indian states (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana) were also published in August 2018 but need to be confirmed.
Considering the phytosanitary crisis caused by the introduction S. frugiperda in Africa, its discovery in India, in a rapidly growing number of States, is raising serious concerns.
Sources
INTERNET
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) Pest Alert (2018-08-09) Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an invasive pest on maize. https://www.angrau.ac.in/pdf/Pest%20Alert-%20FAW-1.pdf
CABI. The invasive blog (2018-08-02) CABI warns of rapid spread of crop-devastating fall armyworm across Asia. https://blog.invasive-species.org/2018/08/02/cabi-warns-of-rapid-spread-of-crop-devastating-fall-armyworm-across-asia/
CIMMYT (2018-08-13) ‘Fall armyworm reported in India: battle against the pest extends now to Asia’ by Cowan C and Johnson J. https://www.cimmyt.org/fall-armyworm-reported-in-india-battle-against-the-pest-extends-now-to-asia/
ICAR-NBAIR. Pest Alert (2018-07-03) Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Insecta: Lepidoptera). http://www.nbair.res.in/recent_events/Pest%20Alert%2030th%20July%202018-new1.pdf
IITA (2018-08-04) Fall armyworm has reached the Indian subcontinent! http://www.iita.org/news-item/fall-armyworm-has-reached-the-indian-subcontinent/
University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in Shivamogga (2018-07-20) ‘Presence of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an invasive pest on maize in University jurisdiction’ by Sharanabasappa and Kalleshwara Swamy CM. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hEW58nhZViHPnRduCjRHVIfWhGASHLSH/view
Internet News (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telengana)
The Hindu (2018-08-20) Fall armyworm spreads to maize fields in Tiruchi. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/fall-armyworm-spreads-to-maize-fields-in-tiruchi/article24733851.ece
The New Indian Express (2018-08-22) North American pest makes a debut in Telangana, officials worried. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2018/aug/22/north-american-pest-makes-a-debut-in-telangana-officials-worried-1861078.html