Climate variability and fall army insect invasion: Implications for sustainable Corn yield in Emohua local government area, Rivers state, Nigeria

The study assessed the invasion of scavenger insects on corn yield in Emohua Community, Rivers State, Nigeria. Laboratory results identified the insects as Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). The result shows monthly and annual variations in rainfall and temperatures from January 2012 to December 2016. The monthly rainfall in 2012 picked late January (0.24mm) and increased to 400mm in September and declined in November (79 °C). The maximum and minimum temperatures from 2012 to 2016 are 29 °C to 34.5 °C and 22 °C and 23 °C respectively. Therefore, the average annual maximum temperatures recorded 2012 (31.6 °C), 2013 (31.5 °C), 2014 (31.4 °C), 2015 (31.4 °C), and decrease by 29.4 °C in 2016. While the average annual minimum temperature was 2012 (22.8 °C), 2013 (22.6 °C), 2014 (22.6 °C), 2015 (22.6 °C), and increase by 23.2 °C in 2016, showing temperature variation. The increase in average annual minimum temperature of 10 °C was due to unusual heat wave or heat trend caused by global warming, which resulted in rainfall decline in 2015. This led to almost four months of prolong drought from November 2015 to late March in 2016. The four months of drought and / or dry air temperature made way for the migration of fall armyworms across the study area, which resulted in poor harvest of maize in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Urgent intervention is needed to avert the scavengers on sustainable maize and other plants.