Seasonal Distribution of Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ethiopia

The alien invasive insect pest, Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly referred as to fall armyworm (FAW), is causing significant losses maize production in Africa since its detection 2016. Despite being the primary pest of main food crop country, researchers are more focused on control methods’ development. There no or little research done seasonality which greatly helps timing intervention time by farmers. purpose this was determine how S. fields changed with seasons. surveys were carried out Ethiopia's major maize-growing regions. These include Afar, Benishangul Gumuz, Amhara, Tigray, South Nation, Nationality and Peoples (SNNP), Oromia dry rainy seasons, respectively, from 2018 2019 2020.The survey sites purposively selected based statistics occurrence reports Ethiopia. From different regions, a total 480 maize-producing farmers’ surveyed: 240 season season. Out surveyed during season, 218 infested . During fields, 146 frugiperda. had an average percentage infestation 35.5 70%, while ranged 20 70%. plants per plot for higher Tigray Oromia, lowest recorded at Gumuz SNNP. regions ranges 22.6 52.2 percent, it 11.3 46.6 percent. Afar (46.6 percent), (22.0 Amhara (18.8 SNNP (13.6), (16.1 infestations wet (11.3). findings revealed that Frugiperda economically important both off-season slightly larger than Keywords: Cropping Fall armyworm, Infestation, Invasive, Dry Rainy Population density DOI: 10.7176/ALST/98-01 Publication date: June 30 th 2023