In 2020, many fall armyworms（FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda）infested with an entomopathogenic fungus were collected from maize fields in Southern Kyushu. In this study, three isolates of FAW fungus and one from common cutworm（CCW; Spodoptera litura）were identified by DNA sequencing as Metarhizium rileyi（formerly Nomuraea rileyi）and found to be closely related to each other. Three fungal isolates from FAW in Kashiwabaru, Satsuma Town; Kinpo, Minamisatsuma City; and Nonomitani, Miyakonojo City, as well as one isolate from CCW in Korimoto, Kagoshima City, were inoculated onto third instar FAW and CCW larvae. The LC₅₀ value ratios of FAW to CCW were 1.14, 0.049, 1.91, and 13.94, respectively, indicating either similar virulence against both species or greater virulence against CCW; only the Kinpo isolate was more virulent against FAW. The LC₅₀ against FAW was 9.7×10³ to 9.6×10⁵ conidia*ml⁻¹. These three strains, other than the Kimpo isolate, were more virulent to CCW, but would also be expected to contribute to FAW mortality in the field.

To determine the effects of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita（Nemata: Meloidogynidae）, on the shoot elongation of figs, ca. two-month-old cuttings were collected from two fig cultivars: ‘Houraishi,’ a common fig, and ‘Reikodai 1 go,’ derived from interspecific hybridization of Ficus carica and F. erecta. The latter is resistant to Ceratocystis canker and thus is expected to be used as a new rootstock for fig trees. Twenty plants of each cultivar were utilized, and half were inoculated with M. incognita. On the day of inoculation, and 39, 64, and 130 days after inoculation, the length of the new shoot from each cutting was checked. Root-knots and the density of the nematodes were recorded in each fig species 130 days after inoculation. We found no differences in the length of the new shoots in ‘Houraishi’ with or without M. incognita 39 days post-inoculation, but by day 64, shoot elongation was inhibited. In contrast, there were no differences in shoot length between ‘Reikodai 1 go’ with or without M. incognita throughout the experimental period. The number of root-knots and the nematode density were higher in ‘Houraishi’ than ‘Reikodai 1 go.’ Such differences may explain the inhibition of shoot elongation in ‘Houraishi.’ These results indicate that nematicide should be used before the planting of ‘Houraishi’ to avoid damage caused by M. incognita. To judge the necessity of nematicide when planting ‘Houraishi’ grafted onto ‘Reikodai 1 go’ as a rootstock, further experiments should be carried out.