How to recognize and combat fall armyworm in cotton

Spodoptera frugiperda, known as the bollworm or corn bollworm, is a major pest that affects a variety of crops, including cotton. This insect goes through several stages of development: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Adult females deposit their eggs in groups on the surface of the leaves of host plants. Once they hatch, the larvae emerge and feed on the leaves and tender shoots of the plants. During their larval stage, they can cause serious damage to crops, as they are voracious devourers of foliage. After several molts, the larvae enter the pupal stage, where they transform into flying adults. These adults reproduce and the life cycle continues.