Fall armyworm and FAW recorder
The invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) commonly known as Fall armyworm (FAW) presents a major challenge to maize farmers and national food security. FAW is native to Americas and its first infestation outside its native range was noticed in Africa in 2016. In 2018 it invaded in India in the state of Karnataka and by 2019 August it has spread to all maize growing tracts of India except in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. It invaded eastern neighbourhood of India and stretched to Japan by July 2019. The major reasons facilitating the rapid spread of FAW across Asia could be availability of maize in some or the other ecologies favorable environmental conditions and the ability of FAW to migrate long distance coupled with wind assisted flight. Keeping this in view Indian Council of Agricultural Research aims to develop a forewarning system towards long term management strategy of the pest. FAW recorder is a humble beginning for that. In addition to structured recording of data by our centres we will be grateful to the volunteers to contribute towards fighting the pest which threatens maize the versatile crop which recorded highest decadal growth rate among cereals.