KEY INSECT PESTS AND DISEASES OF SORGHUM AND THEIR MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Summary Sorghum S. bicolor is an important dryland crop, used for food, feed and biofuel in South Sudan. It accounts for 76% of total cereal production in the country (FAOSAT, 2017) . Despite being tolerant to pests and diseases, many invasive lepidopteran insect pests and diseases have emerged in the past and will continue to emerge to constrain sorghum production, hence, threatening food security. Introduction Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) is one of the most important cereal crops in semi-arid tropics (SAT). It is an important diet for more than 500 million people in over 30 countries, especially in arid and semi-arid (ASA) regions of Africa (ICRISAT, 2015), Asia and Central America . Its production is, however, constrained by biotic and abiotic problems. It is infested by about 150 insect pests, which results in an annual loss of over $1billion in semi-arid regions of the world to ICRISAT (1992
Biology of fall armyworm Adult FAW is noctuid and feeds for a period which extends from shortly after dusk to two hours after sunset depending on temperature and time of the cropping season (Luginbill, 1928). Previous research findings indicate that FAW is always active in the warm and humid conditions (Sparks, 1979). The adult starts movement in the evening towards the host plant for feeding, oviposition and mating (Luginbill, 1928). Virgin female moths begin signaling male moths for mating by emitting windborne pheromone to portray their readiness for mating (Luginbill, 1928). The female undergoes pre-oviposition period ranging between three to four days (Luginbill, 1928). Active oviposition starts from the initial four to five days of life (Sparks, 1979). Females oviposit on the underside of the leaves. However, in the event of high FAW population density, oviposition can be on any plant parts or plant debris (Luginbill, 1928). Oviposition lasts for a period of three weeks (Lug