Weather-driven Pest Dynamics in Punjab: How Biodiversity and Climate Impact on Maize and Food Security

VK Sonawane, SK Gharde and KS Ghodekar The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a destructive pest, primarily affecting maize but also attacking crops like rice, sorghum, and cotton. It was first reported in India in 2018 in Karnataka, but it has since spread nationwide. This study, conducted at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, during 2023 - 2024, examined the effect of weather parameters such as (temperature, relative humidity (RH) and rainfall) on the population dynamics of key maize pests in Northwest India.