Sena Caterpillar/sena dalabuwa

•The Fall Army Worm (FAW) threat looms large in Sri Lanka.

•The larvae stage of the Fall Armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda), commonly known in the country as the ‘Sena caterpillar’

•It has the ability to destroy hundreds of acres of cultivation overnight and could affect over 180 species

•Maize,

•Paddy,

•Sugarcane,

•Green Gram,

•Other Vegetables and Fruits.

•The caterpillar, native to the Americas was, first reported in Africa in 2016 and has since spread to over 40 African countries and devastated thousands of acres of crops.

•First reported in India in May this year, Fall Army Worm spread was reported in Thamilnadu, the Indian state closest to Sri Lanka in early August. Earlier in the month, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a warning to farmers in the North Western and North Central provinces about possible FAW invasion.

•Crop destruction had already been reported from Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Galgamuwa, Rajanganaya, Thambuttha and Gampola areas.

As of now 35,000 acres of maize have been destroyed in Ampara by this caterpillar.

•FAW favours maize, and the larvae are able to feed on more than 80 plant species that make up its food supply during the maize off season.

•With the aid of air currents the FAW can fly up about 100 kilometres per night. Therefore, eradication of this pest is prohibitively expensive.

•The Agriculture Department further requests farmers to be vigilant.

•The Department of Agriculture requests the public to immediately alert the area’s agriculture consultant, or contact 1920 or 081-2388316, in case this caterpillar is found.

•FAW has the ability to adapt to different environmental conditions and climate change.

•This pest is wide spreading and invasive as it has a strong immune system.

•There is an inverted ‘Y’ in the head of the worm. At the rear end of the worm’s back are four dots aligned in a square.

• FAW’s life circle lasts from 20 to 40 days depending on the food consumption.

• This moth is nocturnal.

Eradication 

•Faw has the ability to resist pesticides so, the farmers have great difficulty in eradicating this invasive insect. One significant feature of FAW is, that after consuming the leaves, it crawls inside the shoot of the plant. Until the authorities find a proper solution, it is important to remove the worm with your hands, when you spot it on crops.

•Or else you can use the pesticides relevant to the Spodoptera insect species.