Latest African and Fall Armyworm Forecast from IRLCO-CSA – 7th Dec 2017

SYNOPSIS:
There were no reports of African Armyworm (Spodoptera exempta Walker) outbreaks from any of the IRLCO-CSA Member Countries.
Reports of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, J E Smith) damage to maize were received from Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. Control was being undertaken by the affected farmers with material support from the Ministries of Agriculture.

————————————————————————————
CURRENT SITUATION:

FALL ARMYWORM (Spodoptera frugiperda, J E Smith):

Kenya: Reports of Fall Armyworm attacking cereal crops were received from many areas of the country. The Ministry of Agriculture provided pesticides to farmers who carried out control. Monitoring of the pest was also being undertaken by the Plant Protection Services.

Tanzania: Fall Armyworm damage to maize was reported from Kagera and Lindi regions.

Malawi: Damage by the Fall Armyworm to early planted maize was reported from Balaka district in Machinga Agricultural Development Division (ADD) and Chiradzulu district in Blantyre ADD. The Ministry of Agriculture provided pesticides to farmers who undertook control.

Mozambique: Fall Armyworm was reported causing serious damage to maize in Sofala province.

Zambia and Zimbabwe: There were no reports of the pest damaging crops from the two countries.

AFRICAN ARMYWORM (Spodoptera exempta, Walker):

There were no reports of African Armyworm outbreak from any of the Member States. Monitoring of the pest by Plant Protection Departments in Member States using pheromone traps was underway.

————————————————————————————

OUTLOOK (Dec 2017 – Feb 2018):

The African Armyworm outbreaks are likely to occur with the start of the rain season in most Member States. Plant Protection Departments are advised to put into operation the pheromone trap networks in order to detect the occurrence of outbreaks. Alongside this should also be monitoring of Fall Armyworm moths using pheromone traps accompanied with field scouting for young caterpillars.

————————————————————————————

CREDIT:

This forecast is issued by the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa, with thanks to The Director at IRLCO-CSA and contributions by staff of Plant Protection units in its Member Countries. The forecast is summarised here by the Armyworm Network (@spodoptera007) hosted by Lancaster University. Learn more about IRLCO-CSA

.