~ 278 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2021; 9(1): 278-284 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 www.entomoljournal.com JEZS 2021; 9(1): 278-284 © 2021 JEZS Received: 23-11-2020 Accepted: 25-12-2020 VN Tidke M.Sc. Student, Department of Agricultural Entomology, PGI, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth Akola, Maharashtra, India US Kulkarni Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Entomology, PGI, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth Akola, Maharashtra, India SR More M.Sc. Student, Department of Agricultural Entomology, PGI, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth Akola, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: VN Tidke M.Sc. Student, Department of Agricultural Entomology, PGI, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth Akola, Maharashtra, India Screening of insecticides against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) VN Tidke, US Kulkarni and SR More Abstract The present investigations on “Screening of insecticides against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)” were conducted in the toxicology laboratory of Department of Entomology, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, and Akola (M.S.) during the year 2019-20. The insecticides used as a treatments included, Thiamethoxam 12.6% ZC + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC, Chlorantraniliprole 10% + Lambda cyhalothrin 5% ZC, Pyriproxyfen 5% EC + Fenpropathrin 15% EC, Beta cyfluthrin 90 + Imidacloprid 210 OD, Spinetorum 11.7% SC and Quinalphos 20% EC + Cypermethrin 3% EC along with untreated control. For mass rearing of fall armyworm, S. frugiperda method described by Sisay et al. (2019) was followed with slight modifications with respect to rearing materials and food. The results on relative toxicity studies at LC50 values revealed that Spinetorum 11.7% SC is highly toxic to the third instar larvae of S. frugiperda than rest of the other insecticides tested. At LC50 level the results on relative toxicities of six insecticides can be summarized in decreasing order of toxicities as [Spinetorum 11.7% SC] > [Chlorantraniliprole 10% + Lambda cyhalothrin 5% ZC] > [Pyriproxyfen 5% EC + Fenpropathrin 15% EC] > [Beta cyfluthrin 90 + Imidacloprid 210 OD] > [Quinalphos 20% + Cypermethrin 3% EC] > [Thiamethoxam 12.6% ZC + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC]. The results on relative toxicity studies at LC90 level revealed that Spinetorum 11.7% SC is highly toxic to the third instar larvae of S. frugiperda than all other insecticides tested. At LC90 level the results on relative toxicities of six insecticides can be summarized in decreasing order of toxicities as [Spinetorum 11.7% SC] > [Chlorantraniliprole 10% + Lambda cyhalothrin 5% ZC] > [Beta cyfluthrin 90 + Imidacloprid 210 OD] > [Quinalphos 20% + Cypermethrin 3% EC] > [Thiamethoxam 12.6% ZC + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC] > [Pyriproxyfen 5% EC + Fenpropathrin 15% EC]. Keywords: Screening, laboratory, bioassay, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) 1. Introduction Maize (Zea mays L.) belongs to family Poaceae is one of the most important cereal crops of the world and contributes to food security in most of the developing countries. In India maize is emerging as third most important crop after rice and wheat. Its importance lies in the fact that it is not only used as human food and animal feed but at the same time it is also widely used in corn starch industry, corn oil production and as baby corn in different recipes [16] . It contains various major phytochemicals such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds and phyto sterols which are useful in the prevention of some chronic diseases. It is believed to have potential anti HIV activity due to the presence of Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) lectin or GNA maize [14] . The production of maize in 2017-18 was 20,118 MT in Kharif and 8,634 MT in Rabi with a total production of 28,753 MT in India. After the entry of fall armyworm, the production is reduced to 19,410 MT in Kharif and 8300 MT in Rabi with a total of 27,720 MT in 2018-19 [4] . Amongst several insect pests damaging this crop, the one fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is an occasional but sometimes serious pest observed on this crop. This pest commonly referred to as FAW is a native of America. However, it was first formally reported in West Africa in January, 2016 and has spread to several countries across Africa except a few countries in North Africa [13] . In India, the pest has been reported for the first time in India in Karnataka in July 2018 and subsequently in a few other states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Odisha. Based on results of surveys conducted between 9-18 July 2018 that recorded more than 70% prevalence of the FAW in a maize field in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka [2] . In India, Rabi maize was sown in around 15.56 lakh ha as of 22 nd February, 2019 which was lower than 17.28 lakh ha during corresponding period last year. All India Rabi maize production is estimated by at 5.67 MMT for the year 2018-19 [3] . The fall armyworm damage has been the highest in maize while