Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has been detected on the northern Queensland mainland and in the Torres Strait islands.
Due to the pest’s reproductive capacity, ability to fly long distances and wide host range, combined with the remoteness and spread of known infestations, the national Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) has met and has made recommendations to the National Management Group it is not technically feasible to eradicate the pest.
Fall armyworm affects more than 350 host crops. Many of these hosts are important cropping species (i.e. vegetables, fruit, and cereals) that are widely traded for retail food supply e.g. tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, rye and wheat.
There are species of Spodoptera already present in Australia, which can look similar to fall armyworm.
What is the risk for Tasmania?
As a precautionary measure, Biosecurity Tasmania has declared fall armyworm a pest under the Plant Quarantine Act 1997. This means that in the event it is intercepted in traded plants or plant products at the border, regulatory intervention can be undertaken.
Fall armyworm is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and is most likely found in warm, moist regions where it thrives.
The fall armyworm is not likely to thrive in the cool temperate Tasmanian climate and the current assessment is that it is unlikely to establish permanent populations here.
Due to the ability of the fall armyworm to fly long distances it may migrate into Tasmania from interstate in the future. However, such migrations are likely to be seasonal and populations are likely to die back in the cooler seasons.
Biosecurity Tasmania will identify any suspected fall armyworm specimens at no cost. Contact Biosecurity Tasmania 03 6165 3777.
