L. Vásquez-Cortez

Efficacy of botanical and biological inseccides against Spodoptera frugiperda in corn

Eficacia de insecticidas botánicos y biológicos contra Spodoptera frugiperda en maíz

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is one of the main pests of corn in Ecuador, causing significant yield losses. The intensive use of chemical insecticides for its control poses environmental and human health risks. As a sustainable alternative, this study evaluated the efficiency of biological and botanical insecticides under laboratory conditions. The research was conducted from May to July 2025 using a completely randomized design with four treatments [BotaniGard® ES (Beauveria bassiana), Dipel® WG (Bacillus thuringiensis), NeemAzal® T/S (neem oil), and Delegate® 250 WG (spinetoram, as a chemical control)], which were applied to third-instar larvae via the leaf immersion technique, with evaluations at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Results showed that B. thuringiensis achieved 100% mortality at 96 h, followed by neem oil and B. bassiana, both with 97.5%. Spinetoram produced immediate and sustained mortality of 100% from 24 h. In contrast, neem showed a low initial mortality rate (17.5%) that progressively increased over time. Overall, the biological and botanical insecticides evaluated are effective alternatives for managing S. frugiperda under laboratory conditions, helping reduce dependence on conventional chemical insecticides.