Modelling the control of African Armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) infestations in cereal crops by deploying naturally beneficial insects

•Modelling the interaction between a pest population and parasite insects.•Numerical modelling of pest/predator populations.•Effective sustainable pest control within ten days.•Benefits of using multiple parasitic species for pest control.•Redundancy of pesticides.

A solution was sought for control of Spodoptera exempta in cereal crops. The proposed solution enhanced a previous scheme since it provided control of the pest eggs and larvae and improved the quality of crop products by replacing pesticides. The scheme consists of a surveillance and monitoring system to activate a measured response to pest invasion. In the control phase naturally beneficial insects (NBIs) were deployed via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system to control the pest population; parasite egg wasps (Trichogramma) were combined with a larval parasite Diptera (Tachinidae) to achieve greater control of the life cycle stages of the African Armyworm – Spodoptera exempta.