Abstract
The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is a prime noctuid pest of maize on the American continents where it has remained confined despite occasional interceptions by European quarantine services in recent years. The pest has currently become a new invasive species in West and Central Africa where outbreaks were recorded for the first time in early 2016. The presence of at least two distinct haplotypes within samples collected on maize in Nigeria and São Tomé suggests multiple introductions into the African continent. Implications of this new threat to the maize crop in tropical Africa are briefly discussed.
Highlights
Large numbers of larval armyworms plaguing various crops of economic importance are recurrently recorded in many countries of tropical Africa [1]
When first observations of armyworms were made in late January 2016 on maize plants in the rainforest zone of South-Western Nigeria and in maize fields at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) at Ibadan and Ikenne, attacks were initially attributed to indigenous species of the genus Spodoptera Guenée, 1852 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) commonly occurring in West Africa
In April 2016, following distress calls by maize producers, the government of São Tomé and Príncipe called for assistance from FAO through its sub-regional office for Central Africa (SFC) who expedited a technical mission to the country to assess the situation
Summary
Large numbers of larval armyworms plaguing various crops of economic importance are recurrently recorded in many countries of tropical Africa [1]. When first observations of armyworms were made in late January 2016 on maize plants in the rainforest zone of South-Western Nigeria and in maize fields at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) at Ibadan and Ikenne, attacks were initially attributed to indigenous species of the genus Spodoptera Guenée, 1852 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) commonly occurring in West Africa.
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