Latest Armyworm Forecast from ETOP (September 2019)
Synopsis
Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW): FAW was reported in maize and other crops in Africa and Asia during September
African Armyworm (AAW) (Spodoptera exempta): No AAW outbreak was reported during this month.
Current situation
Fall armyworm (FAW)
FAW infestations were reported in Amhara, Benisngul, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray regions and Dire Adwa in Ethiopia during September, chemical and traditional control operations were effected on 431,000 ha (93.6% of areas infested May through September 25). The pest was reported on more than 461,000 ha (>19.4%) of the 2,371,000 ha planed during 2019 cropping season. In Tanzania, maize is in full maturity in northern part of the country and harvesting is in progress. Only embedded mature FAW larvae were detected in harvested cobs in Arusha and Moshi. Limited infestations were reported in irrigated rice field in Arusha (PHS/Tanzania).
FAW infestations were also reported in Japan where the pest was attacking silage and sweet corn and other crops 13 prefectures as of the 1st week of September. In Nepal, FAW was reported in 15 districts in eastern, central, and mid-western parts of the country at the time this bulletin was compiled as of September. Updates were not received from other regions at the time this bulletin was compiled, however, it is likely that the pest has been causing damage to maize and other crops in several countries (IRLCO-CSA, OFDA/PSPM, PHS/Tanzania, PPD/Ethiopia, USDA).
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/or irrigated maize and other crops across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and any newly invaded regions during the forecast period. Active monitoring, surveillance, reporting and preventive interventions remain critical to abate the damage (OFDA/PSPM).
African Armyworm (AAW)
AAW activities are not expected in southern Africa until sometime in 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
