Latest Armyworm Forecast from ETOP (August 2020)
Synopsis
Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW): FAW was reported in Tanzania and it is likely the pest was present in other maize growing countries.
African Armyworm (AAW) (Spodoptera exempta): AAW outbreak was not reported during this month.
Current situation
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW infestation was reported in irrigated Maize fields in Meru district, Arusha region. Updates were not available from other regions at the time this Bulletin was compiled, but it is likely the pest persisted across maize growing areas in Asia, including China and other maize growing regions across Asia, Pacific and elsewhere. It is to be recalled that this year FAW movement to Northern China occurred at least three months earlier than last year, suggesting the likelihood of the pest becoming a resident in country’s largest (45%) corn producing region (BHA/TPQ, DLCO-EA, USDA/FAS).
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW outbreaks were not reported during this month (DLCO-EA).
Forecasts (for the next 6 weeks)
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW will likely continue affecting rain-fed and irrigated maize and other cereal crops across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Pacific Regions and elsewhere during the forecast period.
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW activities will likely remain calm in the primary outbreak areas during the forecast period (DLCOEA, BHA/TPQ).
Acknowledgements
This forecast is published by Lancaster University’s Armyworm Network: http://www.armyworm.org/. It is an extract from the Emergency Transboundary Outbreak Pest (ETOP) situation report compiled by USAID/OFDA/PSPM. They monitor ETOPs regularly in close collaboration with their network of national PPDs/DPVs, regional and international pest monitoring and/or control entities, including FAO, CLCPRO, CRC, DLCO-EA, and IRLCO-CSA, as well as Agency partners, and NGOs and provides timely analytical bulletins and reports to stakeholders across the globe. For dated, archived ETOP SITREPs, please, go to: https://www.usaid.gov/what-wedo/working-crises-andconflict/responding-times-crisis/how-wedo-it/humanitarian-sectors/agricultureand-food-security/pest-and-pesticidemonitoring/archive