Grzywacz D., Mushobozi W.L., Parnell M., Jolliffe F., Wilson K.
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Pest Control Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Arusha, Tanzania; Institute of Mathematics Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NF, United Kingdom; Department of Biological Sciences, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
Grzywacz, D., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Mushobozi, W.L., Pest Control Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Arusha, Tanzania; Parnell, M., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Jolliffe, F., Institute of Mathematics Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NF, United Kingdom; Wilson, K., Department of Biological Sciences, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
The African armyworm Spodoptera exempta is a major episodic migratory crop pest over much of Eastern and Southern Africa. Control of this pest has been reliant on the use of synthetic chemical insecticides. However, this approach fails to protect poor farmers and is becoming unacceptable for environmental and cost reasons. A programme of field trials was conducted in Tanzania to evaluate the endemic baculovirus, the S. exempta nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpexNPV), as an alternative control. Field trials demonstrated that both ground and aerial application of SpexNPV to armyworm outbreaks on pasture can initiate outbreaks of NPV disease and population collapses. The SpexNPV was effective when applied at 1×1012 occlusion bodies (OB) per hectare if applied to outbreaks early, when larvae are in I-III instar-mass mortalities appear 3-10 days post treatment. The data from these trials indicate that SpexNPV can have a potential role as a substitute for chemical insecticides in strategic armyworm management programmes. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.