Bio-Intensive Tactics for the Management of Invasive Fall Armyworm for Organic Maize Production.

(J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an invasive pest native to the American continent. The present study focused on bio-intensive tactics like intercropping, using natural enemies, botanical insecticides and biopesticides for managing for the organic production of maize in Indian conditions. A total of eight different parasitoids attacking the different stages of eggs and larvae were found in the study area. The total parasitism rate due to all the parasitoids ranged from 28.37 to 42.44%. The egg-larval parasitoid, Sonan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the dominant parasitoid (12.55%), followed by nr. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (10.98%) and sp. (4.85%). About 36.58 percent of the egg masses collected was parasitized by egg parasitoids, among which (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the dominant parasitoid. The botanicals insecticides such as citronella and annona extract were most effective, resulting in 100% mortality of FAW larvae (168 h after treatment). The essential oil of garlic (100%) was found highly effective in inhibiting egg hatching, followed by geraniol (90.76%). The maize intercropped with lady's finger (okra) recorded significantly the lowest pest infestation and recorded higher grain yield (6.17 q/ha) than other intercropping systems and control (5.10 q/ha). The overall bioefficacy of commercial biopesticides against the larvae of was in the following order azadirachtin > (Metch.) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) > (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) at 168 h after treatment.