Last modified: 2021-08-20
Abstract
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an invasive pest from America and has recently become an important pest in Indonesia. In their new environment, these pests have very high migratory and adaptive skills, as well as aggressive feeding habits. The aim of this research was to monitor the distribution, percentage of attacks, and damage caused by S. frugiperda on maize fields in the Karo District of North Sumatra Province. The study was conducted using a survey method at various altitudes and the sample unit was determined using the diagonal method. Each sample unit has a size of 2 × 2 m2. The age of maize crop used as the sample is 2-4; 5-6; 7-8; 9-10; and 11 weeks after planting (wap). Symptoms of attack, number of larvae population, and percentage of FAW attack were observed directly on plants. The results showed that FAW spread evenly at various altitudes, with the highest population at an altitude of 500-1,000 m.a.s.l at the age of 2-4 wap with a larval population density of 14.20 individual/unit sample. The highest percentage of attack was found at an altitude of 500-1,000 m.a.s.l, namely 82% at 2-4 wap. The highest attack on leaves occurred at an altitude of 500-1,000 m.a.s.l (70.6%) at the age of 2-4 wap.