PestFacts article

Worming in: intense fall armyworm pressure in Queensland and the potential impacts in Victoria

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has swept sorghum and maize crops throughout Queensland, with the state experiencing severe pest pressure. The southern grains region is advised to stay informed and be prepared for their arrival. Here’s what you need to know about the latest threshold recommendations and a forecasting tool for the prediction of fall armyworm

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New tool to forecast Fall armyworm migrations

We have released a new online tool to help growers and agronomists predict when Fall armyworm might arrive in their crop based on wind forecasts. This is an important step towards a more comprehensive surveillance and mitigation strategy for this economically important pest species.

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Fall armyworm (and other moth larvae) in Victorian maize

Multiple cases of chewing damage by moth larvae have been reported in maize crops in Victoria recently. From these reports, three species have been identified, including the recently introduced fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Here’s what you need to know about recent fall armyworm observations in Victorian maize. Several species found feeding in Victorian maize We’ve

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Summer fall armyworm update

The presence of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) through the eastern states of Australia is understandably concerning for the grains industry. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and Local Land Services have been conducting surveillance for fall armyworm across NSW. In this article we give a quick summary of the trapping network and the

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Little cause for fall armyworm concern over winter

The presence of fall armyworm through the eastern states of Australia is understandably concerning for the grains industry. But due to the lifecycle and migration patterns of this species, there is little to worry about during winter in South-eastern Australia. In this article we give a quick summary of likely fall armyworm movements this year

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Fall armyworm detected in Victoria: advice for monitoring and reporting

Since its detection in Northern Australia in early 2020 fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, has migrated to other regions and has now been detected as far south as Victoria. Here we outline the current status of fall armyworm and how we can gain a better understanding of its potential range and impact in south-eastern Australia. Prior

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Keep an eye out for fall armyworm during warmer months

As we have now entered the warmer months of the year, migrations of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, to south-eastern Australia are a very real possibility. With the first detections of moth and larvae in northern and central NSW during October, here’s a recap of what you need to know about this recently introduced crop pest.

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Assessment of grains industry fall armyworm RD&E needs are underway

A collaborative Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment initiative is underway to compile what is known about fall armyworm and assess the information gaps that need to be filled in order to support the Australian industry. Species of lepidoptera from the Spodoptera genus are notorious for being a destructive group in agriculture. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda,

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The exotic fall armyworm in Australia: a south-eastern perspective

The exotic fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, has been detected in several locations in northern Queensland since February 2020, and the national Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests has agreed that it is not technically feasible to eradicate the species from Australia. Given that the fall armyworm is a tropical-subtropical species, you may be asking, will this pest

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Native species of armyworm in northern Victoria

Local and migratory armyworm are making their presence felt, with reports coming in from Moama, north-western Victoria and the Mallee area. But this doesn’t necessarily mean they will cause damage to crops. In this article we will provide information on recent reports and explain why action might not be needed depending on the larvae size

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Armyworm update for 2021

Last year we received reports of armyworm being found in cereal crops as early as April, and in some (although not all) cases populations grew large enough to cause significant damage. Here we outline what is known about armyworm migration and how they might respond to conditions this year. Types of armyworm Armyworm is the

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Native armyworms in cereals

Armyworm larvae have been reported in cereals in several areas of south-eastern Australia and two of the biggest questions are, how long will current populations stick around, and will they be a head-lopping risk? One name, (at least) three species Armyworm is a catch-all common name for several crop and pasture moth larvae spanning temperate, sub-tropical

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So you think you’ve found armyworms?!

Armyworms are about…but so are ‘herringbone caterpillars’ and possibly other species. So how do you tell them apart?  Where have they been reported? For the second consecutive year, armyworm (Leucania convecta or Persectania sp.) damage in cereals has been reported in the Victorian Mallee and NSW Riverina near Swan Hill. In the same region Proteuxoa or ‘herringbone caterpillars’ have been

Resource

Wind Dispersal Forecasting Tool

This is an app developed by Cesar Australia to predict the wind-assisted dispersal of Fall Armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda). The app runs real-time simulations of dispersal using the cellular automata model, allowing users to predict the direction and distance that FAW will travel under different scenarios. FAW is lepidopteran pest species which causes major damage

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Catch up on the Crop Protection Forum 2022 online

We were thrilled to host the Crop Protection Forum back in November 2022, in collaboration with our partners AHRI, CCDM, The University of Melbourne and the support of the GRDC. For anyone who was unable to attend, recordings of some of the presentations are now available to watch online.

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Spring caterpillars – which species to look out for

We’re heading towards the time of year where you may be seeing a few of different species of lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) larvae around. These caterpillars can be hard to tell apart, but identification is important because some species are resistant to pesticides and others are benign or even beneficial. So here is a quick

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The ins and outs of native budworm moth trapping in winter grain crops

Making the long flight from the arid inland of Australia, the native budworm, Helicoverpa punctigera, is set to arrive in south-eastern agricultural areas in late winter or spring. As the timing of these flights can vary between years, traps are useful in providing an early warning of moth arrival. Curious about native budworm moth trapping?

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Native budworm trapping in 2016

A network of traps across eastern Australia is poised to track the arrival of budworm moths; just as well since reports from the inland Australia suggest we could experience a large migration this year. A collaborative trapping program for native budworm moths across eastern Australia is continuing in 2016 and is aimed at focusing monitoring