Spodoptera frugiperda is an exotic Lepidoptera that causes enormous damage to cereal crops worldwide. The study was conducted at a research station in western Burkina Faso during two consecutive rainy seasons in 2020 and 2021. The objective of this work was to estimate crop damage and yield losses by S. frugiperda. Each scenario was tested according to a split-plot design with four randomized replicates. The main plots were the varieties and the secondary plots the levels of insecticide treatments. Three varieties of each cereal crop were tested and the insecticide Lambda-cyhalothrin (15 g/l) + Acetamiprid (10 g) was used in three levels of protection: no insecticide application, 4 insecticide applications and 6 insecticide applications. The results showed that the highest average infestation rate was recorded on maize (50.27% of the plants attacked), followed by sorghum (38.61%) and millet (33.19%) in 2020. In 2021, these rates were 41.38%, 26.80% and 26.38% for maize, sorghum and millet, respectively. The average damage score on the Davis scale associated with maize cobs was 2.13 in 2020 in control plots, 1.74 in plots receiving 4 times the insecticide and 1.54 in those receiving 6 times the insecticide. In 2021, the same trend was observed. S. frugiperda infestation on grain of the three crops studied were only recorded on maize, leading to yield losses of around 22.19% in 2020 and 22.18% in 2021. These results may help technical and political decision-makers in the management policy of S. frugiperda, in Burkina Faso. •Maize is the main host plant of Spodoptera frugiperda in Burkina Faso.•As a result, losses due to the insect pest are 2–3 times higher on maize than on other cereals.•These results may help decision-makers in the management policy of Spodoptera frugiperda in Burina Faso.