First records of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Senegal

Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious invasive pest of the family Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) and given its broad host range, has the potential to cause severe yield losses in many economically important crops, especially maize. Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, the pest was first detected in Africa (Nigeria) in January 2016. Here, we report the first records of this invasive pest in the westernmost part of West Africa (Senegal) where both 'rice' and 'maize' moth strains were identified. The species was unambiguously identified based on morphological traits and molecular analyses. Implications of this new threat to crop production and solutions for sustainable management are discussed.