**2.5 Types of caterpillars found in soybean planting and how to control them at the farmer level**

#### *2.5.1 Spodoptera litura armyworm pest*

The pests that attack soybeans in the districts of Maros, Pangkep, Wajo, and Soppeng are armyworms with varying intensities. The intensity of each variety is different. The highest attack intensity of armyworm attacks was found in Detam-2 (16.24%) and Gema (16.29%) varieties in Wajo District and the lowest in Grobogan (10.38%) and Argomulyo (11.25%) varieties, while in The highest attack rate of

**Figure 8.**

*Armyworm larvae (Spodoptera litura on soybeans) (a) and S.litura pests and symptoms of damage to soybean leaves (b).*

armyworm pests in Maros was the Burangrang variety (15.26%) and the lowest was the Grobogan variety (9.87%) (**Figure 8**) [17].

*Spodoptera litura* is an important pest that damages soybean leaves compared to other leaf-damaging pests [18]. Yield losses due to *Spodoptera litura* pest attacks can reach 80%, even puso if not controlled [19]. The rate of yield loss depends on the variety used, the growth phase, and the time of attack [18]. *Spodoptera litura* is known as a polyphagous pest and migratory insect which causes serious damage to soybean crops (**Table 2**) [20].
