Night-time light-traps and push–pull integrated system enhanced the control of different life stages of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Maize, Zea mays L (Cyperales: Poaceae), is one of the major cereal crops grown in Ethiopia for its food and feed values. Recently, the fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) has become a major challenge of maize production threatening smallholder farmers in the country. Developing effective and smallholder farmers-friendly integrated pest management for FAW is vital. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of night-time light-traps and push–pull integrated system on controlling different life stages (adult, larvae and eggs) of FAW.

The study was conducted in Northern Ethiopia included four treatments; maize monocrop, maize plots with night-time light-trap, a push–pull system, and night-time light-trap and push–pull integrated system. Each treatment was replicated five times. The study was carried out twice involving a rain feed (from July to October 2018) and irrigated (from April to June 2019) experiments.

A significantly greater number of FAW moths were captured on traps placed outside maize field plots treated with light-trap and push–pull integrated system than traps placed outside the maize monocrop, light-trap alone and push–pull alone treated plots during the 2018 and 2019 experiment seasons. As a result, a significantly lower number of moths was found inside maize field plots treated with light-trap and push–pull integrated system than the other treatments. The levels of FAW eggs and larval infestation were significantly lower in maize plots treated with the light-trap and push–pull integrated system than the maize monocrops, push–pull alone, and light-trap alone treated plots. The proportion of plants damaged by FAW larvae was significantly lower in maize plots treated with the light-trap and push–pull integrated system relative to maize plots treated with the other treatments.

This study proved that a system integrating night-time light-traps and push–pull results in better and more effective control of different stages of FAW than a push–pull system or night-time light-traps alone.