Latest Armyworm Forecast from ETOP (October 2019)
Synopsis
Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW): FAW infestations were reported in irrigated maize in Malawi and Zimbabwe and the pest is expected to have continued being a problem to rainfed and irrigated crops across invasion countries
African Armyworm (AAW) (Spodoptera exempta): AAW outbreak was not reported during this month.
Current situation
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW infestations were reported in irrigated maize in Masvingo and Matebeleland Provinces in Zimbabwe. Increased pheromone trap catches were reported in Malawi during October. Affected farmers are receiving material and technical support from MinAgri to control the pest. No update was received elsewhere in outbreak and invasion areas, but it is likely that the pest continued being a problem to rainfed and irrigated cereal and other susceptible crops across countries (IRLCO-CSA, OFDA/PSPM).
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW was not reported during this month.
Forecasts (for the next 6 weeks)
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW will likely continue affecting rain-fed and irrigated maize and other crops across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Pacific Regions and elsewhere during the forecast period. Active monitoring, surveillance, reporting and preventive interventions remain critical to abate the damage (OFDA/PSPM).
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW activities may commence during the forecast period in southern Africa during November/December (OFDA/PSPM).
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
