Chiredzi Research station.  P O Box 97 Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has been a pest of occasional importance in the agricultural sectors of the south eastern Lowveld since 2016 with sporadic outbreaks often developing rapidly in maize and sorghum, and resulted in severe defoliation. Fall armyworm adult moths were captured in pheromone trapsbaited with an insecticide strip containing 10% 2.2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate over a 12 month period at Chiredzi Research Station. Monthly catches collected daily from traps placed in the main irrigated block showed a population rise at the start of the summer season (August-October), a fall in November followed by a sharp rise in the last half of December. Fall armyworm moth distribution during these periods varied significantly, suggesting seasonal population patterns. These results represent an indication that the fall armyworm strain might have a substantially population dynamic in the agricultural vicinity of Chiredzi Research Station. Evidence from data collected suggest that the army worm moth was predominant during the onset of the summer periods. It further indicates that the worm can display a markedly different response to seasonal environmental cues.