Cases of Fall Army Worm Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Attack on Maize in Bandung, Garut and Sumedang District, West Java.

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a new pest in maize plants in Indonesia. This insect is originally from America and has spread to several countries causing yield losses. In the early 2019, this pests has attacked maize plants in the Sumatra region. This study aimed to know the presence of S. frugiperda in Bandung, Garut and Sumedang  region. Surveys and observations were conducted in 14 subdistricts (6 subdistricts in Bandung, 6 subdistricts in Garut, and 2 subdistricts in Sumedang). The results showed that S. frugiperda has attacked maize plants in Bandung (Soreang), Garut (Leles, Banyuresmi, and Sucinaraja), and Sumedang (Jatinangor). Identification based on the typical morphological characters found in S. frugiperda larvae, such as the form of "Y" inverted on the head capsule and the patterns of black spots on the abdominal segments (square and trapezoidal forms). S. frugiperda larvae attacked plant growing points but the population was still low. The damage caused by S. frugiperda on maize was very similar to that caused by Mythimna separata, which was commonly found in the survey location of Bandung and Garut. It was looked different, the abundance of S. frugiperda larvae in Cilayung, Sumedang district was quite high.