Further detections of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) on mainland Australia

 

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Publication Date

Fri, 23 Jun 2023, 08:19

Last Updated

June 23, 2023, 8:19 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-98/1

Country

Australia

Pest Id

Spodoptera frugiperda - (LAPHFR)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Lepidopteran pest with a wide host range feeding on more than 350 plant species including commercial species such as; Zea mays(maize), Oryza sativa (rice), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), Poaceae saccharum (sugarcane), Triticum aestivum (wheat), horticultural crops, Gossypium hirsutum L (cotton) and other plants. The majority of Australian detections have occurred in monitoring traps, to date. The extent of host range in Australia is not yet known.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: only in some areas

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

Torres Strait, Queensland (Bamaga, Gulf of Carpentaria, Johnstone, Tolga, Lakeland, Bowen, Burdekin, Emerald, Richmond and Clermont regions), Northern Territory (Katherine, Darwin and Douglas Daly regions), Western Australia (Kununurra, Broome and Carnarvon region) The pest is capable of natural dispersal over long distances and has a broad, available host range. Further detections are likely.

Summary

Eradication of Spodoptera frugiperda from Australia is not considered technically feasible after being reported in Torres Strait (late January 2020), Queensland (February 2020), Northern Territory and Western Australia (March 2020). Activities for fall armyworm have transitioned to management, focused on limiting the impact of the pest.

All levels of Government and Industry will work together to ensure appropriate management options are available to growers and identify research priorities.

Danger

These detections are being notified due to recent international interest in the movement of the pest.

Contact for info

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 [email protected]

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