Effectivity Of Entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae On Fall Army Worm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Abstract

Fall Armyworm (FAW) or armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major pest of corn plants that was first discovered in West Pasaman, Indonesia since 2019. Spodoptera frugiperda causes the highest damage in the larval phase. Symptoms of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae attack on corn plants with elongated holes (window panes) and signs of sawdust-like feces on the leaf surface. The level of damage can reach 100% if the population is not controlled. Therefore, environmentally friendly control can be carried out by utilizing fungi that cause insect pathogens, one of which is Metarhizium anisopliae. The purpose of this research was to examine the concentration of Metarhizium anisopliae on Spodoptera frugiperda instar 2 larvae in the laboratory. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Ecology and Plant Production, Faculty of Animal and Agriculture Science, Universitas Diponegoro, using a 4x5 monofactor Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Treatment based on concentration level of Metarhizium anisopliae (control negative, control positif (insecticide with the active ingredient deltamethrin) , conidia/ml). The results of the research showed that the highest larval mortality in the deltamethrin treatment was 71% with was 3 days, Metarhizium anisopliae had an of  conidia/ml and the highest feeding in the deltamethrin wich was 80,45%. Deltamethrin treatment resulted in the highest mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda in a short time, while Metarhizium anisopliae was less effective and required a long time to infect the larvae.