Spodoptera frugiperda
| Spodoptera frugiperda | ||||||||||||
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Spodoptera frugiperda (male) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Spodoptera frugiperda | ||||||||||||
| ( JE Smith , 1797) |
Spodoptera frugiperda is a species of butterfly from the owl butterfly family(Noctuidae). The caterpillar is called fall armyworm ("autumn army worm"). The mass reproduction of the butterfly species, which occasionally occurs in America, causes great damage to pastures and to crops from the grass family, especially maize .
features
The moths have a wingspan of 32–40 mm, with the females being slightly larger on average. The moths have gray-brown front wings and iridescent silver-white rear wings. There is a triangular white spot on the tips of the forewings of the male moths. The caterpillars have a characteristic bright Y-shaped mark on their head.
distribution
The butterfly species is native to tropical and subtropical America. In the United States, it is mainly represented in the south and southeast. In South America it occurs as far as Argentina . Spodoptera frugiperda has now been introduced to Africa. It was first observed in January 2016 in the West African states of Nigeria , Benin and Togo . Since then, it has spread over large parts of southern Africa, causing severe crop damage in maize fields. As of November 2017, the species can be found in 38 African countries, and it is feared that 21 of the 39 million tonnes otherwise expected in the maize harvest will be destroyed by this species.
The pest was observed for the first time in India in 2018 and it is to be feared that it will spread to large parts of Asia from there. In 2019, widespread spread in China was reported.
Way of life
The butterflies fly in Florida from April through December. They are crepuscular and nocturnal. The species forms only one generation in northern regions (Minnesota and New York), while it can form up to 4 on the Gulf Coast. There are 6 caterpillar stages. The adult caterpillars reach a length of 34.2 mm. Pupation usually takes place in the ground at a depth of a few centimeters. The caterpillars feed on different grasses. However, their forage plants also include crops such as maize, sorghum , alfalfa and dog-tooth grass ( Cynodon dactylon ). The adult caterpillars cause the greatest damage.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Featured Creatures - Spodoptera frugiperda . University of Florida UF / IFAS. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- ↑ a b c d e f Marinda Visser: Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (PDF 1.3 MB) www.grainsa.co.za. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- ↑ a b c Roman Goergen: The 'Heerwurm' eats the fields bare . www.spektrum.de. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- ↑ The caterpillar spreads rapidly. ORF , November 24, 2017, accessed on November 27, 2017 .
- ^ Fall Armyworm to spread across Asia .: Detail. Rural 21, The international journal for rural development, August 22, 2018, accessed on August 22, 2018 .
- ↑ FAZ article from June 12, 2019: Epidemics sweep Asia and lead to higher prices.
Web links
- Spodoptera frugiperda in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)