The African The African Armyworm Handbook The African Armyworm Armyworm Handbook The African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) Handbook (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious migratory pest of cereal crops and grasslands recognized as such since early in the seventeenth century. It can have a major impact on the livelihoods of farmers in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Yemen, some Pacific islands and parts of Australia. The African Armyworm Handbook includes as much up to date information as possible on the biology, ecology, epidemiology and management of this pest as well as containing an extensive list of useful references. The handbook will be of interest to those working in the agricultural sector, particularly those responsible for the control of migrant pests. This edition has been supported by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and ECHO (European Commission Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection) through their project “Emergency and Preparedness Response to Armyworm Outbreak in Lesotho 2013” Front cover photo: Wilfred L. Mushobozi D10311-14 NRI HANDBOOK - COVER.indd 1 05/06/2014 14:09 1 Armyworm Prelims - Chap 2 30/11/00 7:25 pm Page i The African Armyworm Handbook The Status, Biology, Ecology, Epidemiology and Management of Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Second Edition D. J. W. Rose1, C. F. Dewhurst2 and W. W. Page2 1 Tea Tree Cottage, Goodworth Clatford, Hampshire, UK 2 Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent UK 1 Armyworm Prelims - Chap 2 30/11/00 7:25 pm Page ii © The University of Greenwich 2000 The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich is an internationally recognized centre of expertise in research and consultancy in the environment and natural resources sector. The Institute carries out research and development and training to promote efficient management and use of renewable natural resources in support of sustainable livelihoods. Short extracts of this publication may be reproduced in any non- advertising, non-profit-making context provided that the source is acknowledged as follows: Rose, D. J. W., Dewhurst, C. F. and Page, W. W. (2000) The African Armyworm Handbook: The Status, Biology, Ecology, Epidemiology and Management of Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Second Edition. Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute. Permission for commercial reproduction should be sought from the Managing Editor, University of Greenwich, Medway University Campus, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom. Production of this publication was funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) (Advisory and Support Services Contract, ZV0094). However, the views expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the DFID. Price £20 Copies of this book can be obtained by writing to NRI Catalogue Services, CAB International, WALLINGFORD, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK. When ordering, please quote PSTC32. Natural Resources Institute ISBN: 0 85954 523 7 University of Greenwich, a charity and company limited by guarantee, registered in England (Reg. No. 986729). Registered Office: 30 Park Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS. ii 1 Armyworm Prelims - Chap 2 30/11/00 7:25 pm Page iii PREFACE This is the first revision of The African Armyworm Handbook (originally published in 1997) which includes new and updated information and addresses the need to encourage interest from a wider audience as a result of the widespread armyworm outbreaks during the 1998/99 season. This handbook is intended as a source of information for agricultural entomologists, crop protection personnel and scientists. It is not designed as a ‘user manual’, but as a reference text, from which training and advisory literature may be produced. The work cited in this manual comes from many scientific papers, reports, personal communications and experiences, some as yet unpublished. Further information on the subject contained in each section may be found in the key references cited. The comprehensive bibliography, which also includes some useful, more general references, will provide source material for those interested in further research. It is hoped that this compilation will thus serve many purposes. The handbook is based on the experience and research carried out mainly in eastern Africa by the Regional Armyworm Programme of the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA); the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich; the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi; the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and its predecessor, the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organization (EAAFRO); Pest Control Services, Arusha, Tanzania (PCS); the plant protection services of the then member countries of DLCO-EA (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda), and those of other African countries, notably Burundi, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as the Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula. Every effort has been made to produce as complete a bibliography as possible, in line with the purpose of the handbook to provide a comprehensive reference text on the African armyworm. iii 1 Armyworm Prelims - Chap 2 30/11/00 7:25 pm Page iv DEDICATION This handbook is dedicated to everyone who has been involved in helping to unravel the complex ecology and biology of the African armyworm and develop methodologies for the management of this pest in Africa. In particular we would like to pay tribute to the enthusiasm, tenacity, foresight and originality of the pioneers in this field, especially Eric S. Brown and Derek J. W. Rose in eastern and southern Africa, and J. C. Faure and C. C. Hattingh in South Africa. The challenge for all of us was Spodoptera exempta. Charles Dewhurst, Bill Page iv 1 Armyworm Prelims - Chap 2 30/11/00 7:25 pm Page v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Information on the African armyworm has been collected over many years by field staff of a great many countries and many armyworm related projects. Although personal communications and unpublished data provided by scientists are not individually acknowledged in the text, the value of such observations is very worthwhile and much appreciated. We hope that this acknowledgement will be accepted as recognition of the important contributions made by all that have shared in the study of the African armyworm. The important work carried out by moth trap operators, control personnel, staff of the Ministries of Agriculture, Crop Protection Services and the National Armyworm Co-ordinating Offices in Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, South Africa, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe is especially appreciated and acknowledged. Their data have provided the basis for understanding the patterns of events as they were gradually revealed year by year, and for their subsequent interpretation by specialists world-wide. The specialists who participated with the DLCO-EA in these armyworm studies are all gratefully acknowledged. They include scientists from a wide range of disciplines who have provided their skills to investigate particular aspects of armyworm biology, ecology and management. Written contributions and personal communications we have received have been incorporated into the text and are gratefully acknowledged. We wish particularly to acknowledge the long-standing and constant support that the Regional Armyworm Programme received from the following organizations, institutions and governments: v 1 Armyworm Prelims - Chap 2 30/11/00 7:25 pm Page vi Acknowledgements The Director and past Directors-General, the past Director of Scientific Research, the Director of Operations and staff of the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA); Past and present colleagues, both scientists and librarians, at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) and its predecessors of the Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK Government; Technical Co-operation projects and many short-term visits in Kenya and Tanzania supported by DFID of the UK Government; The Delegation of the Commission of the European Union in Nairobi, Kenya; Pest Control Services (PCS), Arusha, Tanzania and the Crop Protection Branch, National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), Nairobi, Kenya for their particular roles in the development of integrated national armyworm control programmes and strategic control procedures; The Director, National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) at Muguga, and its predecessor, the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organisation (EAAFRO), Nairobi, Kenya; The Director, Tanzania Agricultural Research Organization (TARO), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; The Directors of the Kenya Meteorological Department, Tanzania Meteorological Department, Ethiopia National Meteorological Services Agency and the Department of Meteorological Services, Zimbabwe; The Director, scientific staff and air crews of the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO- CSA), Ndola, Zambia; The Director, International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya; vi 1 Armyworm Prelims - Chap 2 30/11/00 7:25 pm Page vii Acknowledgements University College of North Wales, Bangor, UK; Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, UK; Wageningen Agricultural University, the Netherlands;