Evaluation of sex pheromone traps against fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) incidence on maize

Abstract Mass trapping of males can be used to manage insect pests with the use of female sex pheromones. The present investigation was done to evaluate the commercial sex pheromone lures for management of fall armyworm through mass trapping under field condition. The evaluation was done using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with five treatments and was replicated four times. The results showed a significant difference in the catches of male moth traps. There was a significant difference in the attraction of male moths to the sex pheromone lures and weeks. Mass trapping of FAW moths using sex pheromone traps revealed that although the moth catches began during 39th MSW, peak trapping was noticed on 43rd MSW in all trap density treatments. Maximum moth trapping was observed in the block wherein 15 traps per acre were installed followed by 10 traps and 5 traps per acre treatments. Installation of 10 to 15 traps per acre was found to be as good as the recommended management package for FAW in maize i.e., application of emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.3 g/l followed by chloranitraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.2 ml /l in terms of FAW infestation and foliage damage. All the trap installed treatments (5, 10 and 15 traps/acre) proved to be at par with the recommended package with respect to cob damage caused by FAW and were found on par with the untreated control with regard to the natural enemy activity. Grain yield obtained from 15 traps per acre treatment was on par with the recommended package.