Studies on the influence of altitude on abundance of fall armyworm (spodoptera frugiperda (Je Smith)) (lepidoptera: noctuidae) in Tanzania
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Date
2023-08-25
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Society for Science and Education
Abstract
Fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) is one of the most devastating
polyphagous field crop pests in many parts of the world, including Tanzania.
Influence of altitude on the abundance of S. frugiperda was studies by using
Pheromone (Frugilure S. frugiperda, Chemtica international, S.A) embedded cup
traps. The study was conducted along sites of Mt. Uluguru slopes including; SUA
(525 masl), Mlali (579 masl), Mgeta (1050 masl) and Nyandira (1691 masl) located
in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. A total of 16 cup traps (four at each site equidistantly
arranged at 100 m apart) were used. Weather data were recorded using Hygrocron
i-button hung on a tree at equidistant from the four traps. Data on S. frugiperda
counts and weather variables were recorded weekly for duration of six months
from January to June 2020. Results showed that S. frugiperda was abundantly
recorded across he tested altitude albeit at varied abundance. There was significant
difference (p < 0.001) among altitude on S. frugiperda abundance, whereby at low
altitude, S. frugiperda abundance was high compared to medium and high altitude.
Rainfall had positive correlation on S. frugiperda abundance (r = 0.16, r = 0.04) for
SUA and Mlali and negative correlation (r = -0.44) and (r = -0.03) for Mgeta and
Nyandira. Temperature had positive correlation (r = 0.21) on S. frugiperda
abundance at Nyandira while SUA (r = -0.03), Mlali (r = -0.35) and Mgeta (r = -0.28)
had negative correlation. Relative humidity for all four locations showed negative
correlation with S. frugiperda abundance. Thus, appropriate and effective
management practices of S. frugiperda should be considered throughout maize
production areas and across crop production seasons regardless of the altitude.
Description
Research article
Keywords
Abundance, Altitude, Maize, Pheromone traps, Spodoptera frugiperda
Citation
DOI:10.14738/dafs.114.14934.