Growing Degree Day: An Essential Component for Sustainable Management of Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith): A Review

Abstract

Insects are exothermic organisms. Their phenology and behavior are affected by temperature. An amount of total heat unit accumulated to develop insect from one stage to another is expressed as growing degree day. Growing degree day has immense importance in integrated pest management which helps in predicting insect pest emergence, population growth and its distribution. Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a migratory invasive pest of maize which neither hibernates nor survive during winter in the hill of Nepal. Insect population survived in terai during winter season multiply in spring and migrate to hills of Nepal. Study in growing degree day required for different stages of S. frugiperda helps in forecasting the pest incidence aiding timely and sustainable management of this pest during maize cultivation in hill and terai regions. The objective is to summarize the available data on thermal constant and threshold temperature, synthesize degree day calculation methods and to develop strategic framework for management of S. frugiperda.