Multigenerational migration of fall armyworm, a pest insect

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2919
• Publication Date: 2019-11-01T15:38:47Z
• Authors: J. Westbrook; S. Fleischer; S. Jairam; R. Meagher; R. Nagoshi
• Keywords: Germ plasm; Insect pest

Abstract Multigenerational insect migration commonly expands poleward, but meteorological influences are not clearly understood. We coupled biological and physical processes for the agricultural invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm), by modeling its seasonal migration, comparing simulated migrations to observed captures, population genetic markers, at a continental scale. Simulations corroborated spatial distribution mixing of Texas Florida source populations defined haplotypes. Positive relationships were found between first weeks immigration, metrics. The capacity project biotic‐, migratory‐, meteorology‐induced shifts in distributions will aid strategic implementation crop protection measures economic analyses host‐resistant germplasm deployment response warming climate.