Response of Spodoptera frugiperda Larval Instars to Commonly Used Insecticides in Tanzania

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous migratory pest reported in Tanzania 2017. Limited choices of officially registered insecticides for the control when it first occurred led to many farmers opting few available ones including those that were not pests. The current study drew from survey conducted 2018 listed commonly used by against pest. assessed effectiveness different S. larval instars under field conditions 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. Ten applied damaged maize crops. Obtained results suggested varied tested with some inflicting significant (p < 0.001) mortality larvae while proved ineffective. Ninja plus 5EC, Profecron 720 EC, Multi alpha 150 EC Duduba 450 caused highest all experimental plots accompanied reduced incidences damage severities on crops Thunder 145 OD Attakan 350 SC least effective. Yields obtained experiments impact whereby treated produced yield (4 tons/ha) compared non-treated (2.2 tons/ha). findings this prove effective not. As such farmers’ complaints ineffectiveness traded could be real.