Damage Caused by Lepidopteran Pests on Maize Fields in Yamoussoukro, Central Côte d’Ivoire

Various larvae of Lepidoptera cause severe damage to maize crops. The dynamics these pests have been studied during all stages plant development. trial was carried out on the Institut National Polytechnique Houphouët-Boigny farm plots in Yamoussoukro (central Cote d’Ivoire). study aims were monitor dynamics, determine importance (frequency and abundance), assess Lepidopteran variety EV8728 SR using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. sown 05 September 2020. Insects characterized keys following on-site observation capture plants. Five species, grouped into three families, counted plots. Spodoptera frugiperda most frequent (Occurrence C = 20.9%) highly abundant (Relative Abundance Ar 65.79%). other species rare (C < 5%). However, Sesamia calamistis very (Ar=15.22%), while Eldana saccharina (Ar 9.44%) Ostrinia nubilalis 5.25%) abundant. Helicoverpa zea is scarcely (Ar=4.3%). Furthermore, (E. saccharina, O. nubilalis, H. zea) as minor (Damage Index I 10%), S. important pest (I 25%) major (I< 75%). populations insects fluctuated crop mean dried grain yield varied from 2.4±0.42 2.61±0.71 t/ha. Populations their appeared more than those Lepidoptera. Knowledge lepidopteran essential for effectively efficiently controlling improving quality quantity production.