Achievements and difficulties in augmentative biological control of fall armyworm in developing countries – experience of IPM Innovation Lab

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous species, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas and has spread to Africa, Asia, and Australia in recent years. In Asia, Africa, and Australia, it mainly infests maize, sorghum, and rice crops. FAW has caused substantial damage to the crops and panic among farmers in several countries in Africa and Asia. Major issues in the sustainable management of this pest include the presence of maize, rice, and hybrid strains and reliance on chemical pesticides. Augmentative biological control has played a major role in managing the populations in Africa and Asia, however, difficulties are also encountered while doing so. Efforts put in by IPM innovation lab to manage this pest include, identification, rearing, and mass release of parasitoids (such as Trichogramma sp., Telenomus sp., and Bracon sp.), enhancing use and marketing of microbials (such as Beauveria bassiana and Bacillus thuringiensis). Achievements include a trained workforce, awareness among farmers, the widespread popularity of parasitoids, and difficulties include COVID-19 pandemic interference and misinformation spread in the fora.