The National Management Group has determined that it is not technically feasible to eradicate fall armyworm from Australia. Australia’s environment and native flora may also be impacted.ĭAF Queensland is continuing to undertake surveillance across key farming areas.

This pest is also prolific, reproducing at a rate of several generations per year. Australia’s climate and the production of suitable hosts are favourable for fall armyworm to establish and spread. Fall armyworm is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, and since 2016 has spread to Africa, the Indian subcontinent, China and South East Asia.Īdult moths are highly mobile and can fly long distances (up to 200km). Fall armyworm has been confirmed in sugarcane on the Atherton Tablelands region, on cane bordering heavily infested maize crops.įall armyworm is an invasive pest and its larval (caterpillar) stage feeds on more than 350 plant species, and impacts cultivated grasses such as maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and wheat, as well as fruit and vegetable and cotton crops.

It has been detected by Biosecurity Queensland at several sites on mainland Australia including the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and recently in Victoria. Fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda) is now considered established in Australia.

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