International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Haftay Gebreyesus Gebreziher, Fissiha Gebreyesus Gebreziher

Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), native to tropical and sub-tropical America, has become one of the most devastating pests in terms of crop loss and economic impact in Ethiopia and Africa. In Ethiopia, S. frugiperda infestations are reported in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples` State on March 2017 and spread fast to other states to become an epidemic pest in June 2017. Therefore, devising affordable and effective alternative options for control of S. frugiperda is paramount important. Therefore, a study was carried to evaluate the effect of integrating night-time light traps and push pull method on monitoring and deterring of S. frugiperda. Significantly greater number of S. frugiperda moths were captured in traps placed outside maize plots treated with light-push pull than traps placed outside control, light-trap or push pull treated maize plots (P < 0.001) during the period of July to end of October 2019 except in November. This resulted in lower number of moths inside maize plots treated with the integration of light-push pull method. This study depicted that integrating night-time light trap and push pull plants led to the capture of greater number of S. frugiperda moths than using light traps or push pull plants alone. Further study is needed to investigate whether the effect of integrating night-time light trap and push pull method can consequently reduce the population of other life stages of the insect involving the eggs, larvae and pupae.