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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Bioecology, invasion dynamics, and integrated management strategies of the fall armyworm: A comprehensive review
Authors
Muskan Thakur
Abstract
The Fall Armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a destructive, invasive, and highly polyphagous
insect pest native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Outside
its native range, FAW was first reported in Africa in 2016, from where it
underwent rapid expansion across Asia, arriving in India in May 2018
(Karnataka) and subsequently spreading to Himachal Pradesh during the Kharif
season of 2020. FAW presents a severe biosecurity threat to global food
security, causing yield losses in maize ranging from 20% to 50% globally, 36%
to 40% in India, and infestation levels up to 47.29% in early outbreaks in
Himachal Pradesh. Its exceptional invasion success is driven by a broad host
range (>300 species), high fecundity (900–1000 eggs/female), short
generation cycle (24–40 days), strong migratory flight capability, absence of
true diapause, and genetic plasticity represented by its Corn (C) and Rice (R)
strains. This review paper provides a thorough, comprehensive synthesis of FAW
bioecology, host preferences, developmental biology, climate drivers, and historical
invasion dynamics, detailing its continuous year-round expansion across Indian
cropping cycles. Furthermore, we critically review Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) tactics encompassing systematic scouting (FAMEWS), push-pull habitat
manipulation, mechanical practices (sand/soil whorl application), native
biological control agents (predators, parasitoids, entomopathogenic fungi,
bacteria, viruses, and nematodes), botanical extracts (azadirachtin, Annona
squamosa, Agave americana), and CIBRC-approved chemical insecticides with IRAC
mode-of-action rotation. Finally, recent molecular and precision
advances—including RNA interference (RNAi), CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing,
nano-silicon defence priming, and AI-driven forecasting—are evaluated to chart
a sustainable path for long-term FAW suppression.
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Pages:596-603
How to cite this article:
Muskan Thakur "Bioecology, invasion dynamics, and integrated management strategies of the fall armyworm: A comprehensive review". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 596-603
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