China MARA: mid-to-late July is a crucial stage to monitor the prevention and control of spodoptera frugiperda

By think Real - On 3 July, 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) convened video conference regarding facilitating the implementation of prevention and control of spodoptera frugiperda nationwide to summarize practice and achievements of prevention and control of spodoptera frugiperda in the early stage across China, analyze and judge its next trend, and further arrange major work in monitoring the prevention and control.

It is pointed out in the conference that prevention and control of spodoptera frugiperda was effective in the early stage; the spread of pests to areas in the northern China was slower than that of last year; main areas struck are in the south of the Yangtze River; damage to winter and spring corn was controlled below 3%; prevention and control yielded interim results. According to MARA’s research, as of 2 July, areas attacked by spodoptera frugiperda reached 524 thousand hectares, while areas under prevention and control reached 634 thousand hectares, so necessary prevention and control were adopted on the whole.

It is emphasized on the conference that despite that prevention and control of spodoptera frugiperda were adopted effectively in the first half of the year, attention should be kept continuously in the second half of the year to protect corn production areas in Huanghuaihai and northern China, and ensure effective supply of grain. In particular, the mid-to-late July, which is the seedling stage of summer corn, is a crucial stage to monitor the prevention and control as corns are threatened by spodoptera frugiperda. Departments in all areas should enhance monitoring and warning, and set up more monitoring sites to conduct comprehensive investigation and strictly implement information report and duty system for the outbreak of major pests and diseases. Once any pest outbreak is founded, treatment must be taken at the first time without hesitation.