First report of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) incidence in Himachal Pradesh (H.P.), India

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), identified from the characteristic inverted “Y” mark on front of the head and four dark spots arranged in a square on top of eighth abdominal segment, was found for the first time attacking maize crop in Una district of Himachal Pradesh during kharif season 2020. This confirms its presence in H.P. for the first time. The mean incidence of S. frugiperda in five blocks of this district viz., Amb, Bangana, Gagret, Haroli and Una was 54.64, 37.12, 64.67, 40.69 and 36.82%, respectively. Overall infestation of maize plants by fall armyworm in Una district was computed to be 47.29%. Dissecting whorls of infested maize plants revealed that mean larval count of fall armyworm varied from 1.14 -1.46 larvae per whorl with a maximum of 3 larvae per whorl. Symptoms of fall armyworm damage observed in the maize fields included scratching of leaves by initial instars leading to formation of pin holes and window panes on leaf lamina.