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THE FALL ARMYWORM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Summary of a briefing to the Portfolio

Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and

Fisheries on 14 February 2017.

he Fall Armyworm (FAW) Larvae were collected, pupated and Mokgopong, Letsitele, Bochum, Bela
T( S p o d o p t e r a f r u g i p e r d a ) the emergent moths positively Bela, Settlers and Rust De Winter) and
originates from the tropical regions identified by the ARC on 3 February confirmed at: Pontdrift, Musina, Levubu,
of South America and the Caribbean 2017. Vivo, Makopane, Mashashane,
region and is also present in some Mokgopong, Chuniespoort, Letsitele,
southern states of the USA. It is a The FAW can attack over 80 different Settlers and Rust De Winter.
• Gauteng: northern and eastern parts and
serious pest attacking maize in Brazil plant species, the main hosts being
confirmed at, Bon Accord, Pyramid,
and other South American countries. maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cotton, Bronkhorstspruit and Roodeplaat.
It was reported in Africa in 2016 soybean and sugar cane. Additional • North West: western parts, confirmed at
(West and Central Africa, Zambia host plants include pasture and other Rustenburg and Swartruggens.
and Zimbabwe) with yield losses of grasses, spinach, lucerne, sunflower, • Mpumalanga: Schoemanskloof,
bewteen 30-60%. The moths are wheat, cabbage and potatoes. The Hendrina, Middelburg.
strong fliers easily migrating to new FAW feeds on leaves especially • Free State: Petrus Steyn.
areas making use of prevailing winds when they are still at younger growth • Northern Cape: Douglas.
and weather systems. stages but during heavy infestations,
larvae will also feed on corn ears. Reports indicate that the following have
The FAW is classified as a Foliar damage to corn is usually been attacked: maize (especially
quarantine pest for SA and DAFF characterized by ragged feeding, and sweetcorn, and seed maize) and sorghum.
sent out an alert on 17 January 2017 moist sawdust-like frass near the leaf
in response to media reports of this whorl and upper leaves of the plant. The following nine chemical active
pest appearing in Zambia and ingredients have been registered for use
Zimbabwe. Farmers form the Distribution of the FAW in SA so far: on the FAW in SA according to
Limpopo and Northwest provinces • Limpopo: reported by farmers as emergency registration procedures
also reported suspected FAW widespread (Musina, Pontdrift, :Indoxacarb, Chlorantraniliprole,
caterpillars mainly from the Limpopo Levubu, Tshakuma, PundaMalia, Emamectin benzoate, Flubendiamide,
and North West Provinces and a Vivo, Marken, Dwaalboom, Lufenuron, Methomyl, Indoxacarb /
preliminary action group met on 25 Thabazimbi, Lepalele, Makopane, novaluron, Malathion and Chlorpyrifos
Mashashane, Chuniespoort,
January 2017 to initialize response. (others are pending registration).

For reporting all observations
/outbreaks, please contact:
Directorate: Plant Health
Division: Early Warning System
Mr Jan Hendrik Venter
Tel: 012 319 6384/6104/ 0723488431
Email: janhendrikv@daff.gov.za

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