Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): first record of damaging Agave tequilana plants in BrazilAgave tequilana Weber var. azul (Asparagales: Asparagaceae), an exotic species traditionally used for tequila production in Mexico, has recently been introduced in Brazil and has been investigated as an alternative for ethanol production, carbon sequestration, and animal feed, with emphasis on production systems adapted to semi-arid conditions and on strengthening the bioeconomy (Espinosa-Andrews et al., 2021; Embrapa, 2025). Interest in the genus Agave stems from its high water-use efficiency, high biomass production, and potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions (Forbes Agro, 2025).
This scenario is supported by the country’s established production base, as Brazil is the world’s largest producer of Agave sisalana, with approximately 95 thousand tons of fiber in 2023, concentrated mainly in the states of Bahia and Paraíba. In addition to its socioeconomic importance in the semi-arid region, sisal has great potential for the full utilization of its biomass, still underutilized, in the production of biofuels and co-products (Embrapa, 2025).
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a pest native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas (Early et al., 2018) and is widely recognized as one of the most destructive species globally, due to its high adaptability, ecological plasticity, and rapid evolution of resistance to insecticides (Ramos et al., 2022; Qiu et al., 2023). In Brazil, management costs exceed 600 million dollars annually (Erik, 2017). Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous species, capable of developing on more than 350 host plants, with a preference for grasses (Montezano et al., 2018).
In March 2025, an experiment was established with seedlings of Agave tequilana var. azul, Agave sisalana Perrine, and hybrid 11648, planted at a spacing of 3 × 1 m, totaling an estimated population of 1,841 plants over an area of 8,000 m2. The experiment was conducted at Fazenda Piantare, in the municipality of Jacobina, Bahia (11°08′41″ S; 40°43′28″ W).
One year after emergence, approximately 10% of the plants of the three Agave species were infested with S. frugiperda larvae, with a higher incidence of attack in A. tequilana. The larvae were identified based on morphological characteristics, such as the presence of a distinct inverted “Y” on the dark head capsule and four elevated black spots arranged in a square on the dorsal side of the penultimate abdominal segment. This is the first report of S. frugiperda causing damage to A. tequilana in Brazil.
Infestation in A. tequilana begins with oviposition on the inner portion of the apical leaves, generally in protected sites that favor egg survival. After hatching, newly emerged S. frugiperda larvae, which are initially gregarious, rapidly migrate to the base of the leaves near the central rosette and stem (the “piña” region), where they find tender tissues and a favorable microenvironment. During the early instars, larvae feed by perforating the basal leaf tissues (Figure 1A); as they progress to later developmental stages (Figure 1B), they consume and perforate the lanceolate leaves, intensifying plant damage (Figure 1 C). Upon completing larval development, they leave the plant and drop to the soil, where they burrow shallowly and pupate. This colonization pattern is consistent with the species’ behavior, which prioritizes meristematic structures and young tissues (Sparks, 1979; Montezano et al., 2018).
Leaf injury in Agave tequilana (Asparagales: Asparagaceae) caused by Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): penetration hole at the leaf base near the central rosette (A), caterpillar in advanced instar (B) and details of damaged lanceolate leaves (C).
As instars progress, the boring habit intensifies, leading to the formation of galleries at the base of the leaves and in the plant's central region. This behavior promotes the destruction of parenchymal and vascular tissues, compromising structural integrity and sap flow. In addition, the galleries facilitate the entry of secondary pathogens and accelerate tissue deterioration, amplifying physiological damage. In crops such as maize and sorghum, similar injuries are associated with reduced photosynthetic efficiency and impaired plant growth, effects that may potentially be extrapolated to hosts with similar architecture (Bakry and Abdel-Baky, 2023; Montezano et al., 2018). In the case of Agave tequilana, the infestation of goosegrass, Eleusine indica (Poales: Poaceae), near the cultivated area likely acted as a source of inoculum, favoring colonization by S. frugiperda and resulting in plant injury. These findings suggest that this exotic species may be more susceptible to damage caused by pest insect biotypes endemic to Brazil.
Acknowledgements
We thanks “Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa – SEG: 20.24.00.125.00.00)” and “CDV Desenvolvimento” for financial support.
Data Availability Statement
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request
References
-
BAKRY, M.M.S. and ABDEL-BAKY, N.F., 2023. Impact of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) infestation on maize growth characteristics and yield loss. Brazilian Journal of Biology, vol. 84, pp. e274602. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.274602 PMid:37493657.
» https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.274602 -
EARLY, R., GONZÁLEZ-MORENO, P., MURPHY, S.T. and DAY, R., 2018. Forecasting the global extent of invasion of the cereal pest Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm. NeoBiota, vol. 40, pp. 25-50. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.40.28165
» https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.40.28165 -
EMBRAPA, 2025 [viewed 6 April 2026]. Brazil researches tequila plant for ethanol production [online]. Available from: https://www.embrapa.br/busca-de-noticias/-/noticia/102204524/brazil-researches-tequila-plant-for-ethanol-production
» https://www.embrapa.br/busca-de-noticias/-/noticia/102204524/brazil-researches-tequila-plant-for-ethanol-production -
ERIK, S., 2017. New crop pest takes Africa at lightning speed. Science, vol. 356, no. 6337, pp. 473-474. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.356.6337.473 PMid:28473543.
» https://doi.org/10.1126/science.356.6337.473 -
ESPINOSA-ANDREWS, H., URÍAS-SILVAS, J.E. and MORALES-HERNÁNDEZ, N., 2021. The role of agave fructans in health and food applications: A review. Trends in Food Science & Technology, vol. 114, pp. 585-598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.022
» https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.022 -
FORBES AGRO, 2025 [viewed 6 April 2026]. Embrapa pesquisa a planta da tequila que pode transformar o semiárido brasileiro [online]. São Paulo: Forbes Brasil. Available from: https://forbes.com.br/forbesagro/2025/08/ embrapa-pesquisa-a-planta-da-tequila-que-pode-transformar-o-semiarido-brasileiro/.
» https://forbes.com.br/forbesagro/2025/08/ -
MONTEZANO, D.G., SPECHT, A., SOSA-GÓMEZ, D.R., ROQUE-SPECHT, V.F., SOUSA-SILVA, J.C., PAULA-MORAES, S.V., PETERSON, J.A. and HUNT, T.E., 2018. Host plants of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Americas. African Entomology, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 286-300. https://doi.org/10.4001/003.026.0286
» https://doi.org/10.4001/003.026.0286 -
QIU, C., ZENG, J., TANG, Y., GAO, Q., XIAO, W. and LOU, Y., 2023. The Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), infuences Nilaparvata lugens population growth directly, by preying on its eggs, and indirectly, by inducing defenses in rice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 8754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108754 PMid:37240102.
» https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108754 -
RAMOS, R.S., SILVA, C.A.D., LIMA, T.A., ALBUQUERQUE JUNIOR, P.S., CASTELLANI, M.A., SERRÃO, J.E. and ZANUNCIO, J.C., 2022. Development, Survival and Reproduction of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) fed an artificial diet or on cotton, castor bean and corn leaves. Insects, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 428. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050428 PMid:35621764.
» https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050428 -
SPARKS, A.N., 1979. A review of the biology of the fall armyworm. The Florida Entomologist, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 82-87. https://doi.org/10.2307/3494083
» https://doi.org/10.2307/3494083
Edited by
-
Editor:
Takako Matsumura Tundisi
