Abstract
Maize kernel contains a large quantity of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, oils, fats and competes favorably with root and tuber crops as a rich energy source. In Uganda, the per capita consumption ranges from 28 to 125 kg per annum. However, the yields remain low, fluctuating around 1.5 tons per hectare. Although some losses to maize production occur through the post-harvest period, pre-harvest factors such as biotic and abiotic constraints significantly affect its production. The most important biotic constraints include pests and diseases. Among the pests, Lepidopterans such as the fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith) has become an important pest of maize during the early growing stages of the crop. Yet there is no information on the destructive levels of this pest in maize fields and this hinders management options for this pest. To determine the incidence, severity and prevalence of the FAW which may be responsible for low yields and poor maize quality, a survey was carried out in Bulambuli district in Uganda. Forty fields were sampled in Bwinkhonge Sub County to determine the level of damage caused by this pest. The severity of damage on leaves (df = 9, χ2 = 87.66, P = 0.000*) ears (df = 9, χ2 = 299.2, P = 0.000*) and kernels (df = 7, χ2 = 19.9, P = 0.005*) was high and significantly different in two parishes surveyed. Key words: Larvae, incidence, pests, damage.  
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) known as corn, zea, silk maize, makka, barajovar (Kumar and Jhariya, 2013) belongs to the class Liliopsida
For all the forty fields sampled in the Sub County, fall armyworm (FAW) incidence was high, where more fields showed a high incidence, followed by those with moderate incidence, those which showed no FAW damage and those with low incidence
Prevalence of the FAW larvae on maize In Bwikhonge Sub County, FAW larvae were so prevalent when infested plants were carefully inspected
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) known as corn, zea, silk maize, makka, barajovar (Kumar and Jhariya, 2013) belongs to the class Liliopsida. Maize is believed to have originated from central Mexico about 7000 years ago from a wild grass, and was transformed by Native Americans into a better source of food. Maize is one of the three most widely cultivated crops in the world (Abdel-rhman, 2015). The USA, China and Brazil contribute 63% of the global maize production.
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