As of December 2017, it had been reported in 38 African countries, including some island nations.įall armyworm is actually a caterpillar rather than a worm, and the adult stage of the pest is a moth. Because the adult moth can fly up to 100 km per night, it has spread rapidly. And destruction of the silk (see diagram below) results in reduced pollination and reduced formation of grain.įall armyworm was first reported in Africa in 2016. Larvae that feed on grain make the plant more susceptible to fungal attack and aflatoxin contamination. For example, larger caterpillars can destroy seedlings and young plants by cutting the stem at the base. If pest populations are high and farmers do not take control measures, Fall armyworm can cause significant damage to maize crops. The ideal climatic conditions in tropical Africa and the abundance of suitable host plants enable Fall armyworm to have several generations per year. Fall armyworm breeds and multiplies all year round, so all life stages are present at all times. The pest originates in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of North and South America.

The larvae (caterpillars) prefer feeding on young maize plants, but have also been reported to feed on a variety of other crops, including millet, sorghum, rice, wheat, sugar cane, and vegetables. The Fall armyworm, which has the scientific name of Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of staple crops. NOTE: This information was originally published in October 2017 and updated in May 2018. (5 MB)ĭownload the photos mentioned in this resource. Save and edit this resource as a Word document.

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