First record of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) damage to potato: a potential pest of the crop in Pakistan

Abstract

The recent introduction of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) into Pakistan has resulted in millions of dollars of losses for maize production. Due to the wide host range, high fecundity, and long-distance migrations favoring fall armyworm establishment, it has the potential to cause significant damage to several crops in Pakistan. In the maize cropping system, potato is another important crop that is cultivated on vast hectares. Okara is considered the hub of both maize and potato production in Pakistan. The existence of fall armyworm on maize could possibly threaten the potato crop. To ascertain the extent of possible damage from fall armyworm, we conducted a comprehensive survey of the potato growing area of the Okara District, Punjab, Pakistan. We collected twelve larvae from potato damaged plants from three different locations lat. 30.813979o, long. 73.533934o; lat. 30.725032o, long. 73.730319o and latitude 30.646966o, long. 73.786563o. Collected larvae were identified as fall armyworm. The plants from which the larvae were collected have a visible single hole at the base of the stem, which resulted in a sudden decline of feeding tiller. To our knowledge, this is the first report of fall armyworm occurrence and its damage on potato crop in Pakistan