The fall armyworm (FAW) response is continuing with Biosecurity NZ urging grower to keep looking for this pest. Biosecurity NZ have also released a range of information sheets and brochures to help growers identify FAW and understand its potential impacts. See end of article below for links to these documents.
Biosecurity New Zealand and primary sector partners, including FAR, are continuing response efforts against the invasive pest, fall armyworm (FAW).
To date, FAW has been identified on 25 properties in total in six regions– a single egg mass in Tauranga and larvae in paddocks in the Waikato, Auckland, Taranaki, Gisborne, and Northland. There are also two locations of interest. The majority of the finds were over the summer and autumn period, as the fall armyworm thrives in very warm climates.
Heading into spring, Biosecurity New Zealand encourages everyone to continue to look for signs of FAW, particularly on maize and sweet corn plants. Information about this pest and what to look for can be found here.
As part of the ongoing work against FAW, Biosecurity New Zealand is partnering with Better Border Biosecurity (B3) to undertake research to better understand the survival, distribution, and potential impacts of this moth pest in NZ. Over 200 fall armyworm pheromone traps will be distributed around the country to support the B3 research work.
To further support this research, we’d also like farmers and growers to keep a look out for FAW in your properties over the spring and summer months (October to end of March 2023) and provide feedback to us even if you did not detect FAW. This includes growers who have deployed their own FAW pheromone traps, are undertaking crop scouting, or just conducting regular checks of their crops.
If you did not detect FAW in your property, we would also like to know about to help build that picture of distribution. Please report this to MPI at the end of each month by filling out the form which can be found at the link here, and sending it through to faw@mpi.govt.nz.
If you are unable to fill out this form directly, you can email the information outlined in the form attached. This information will then be shared with B3 to support their research work.
Thank you again for playing an important part in managing this pest, and we will update you again soon.
Please keep looking
FAW can easily be mistaken for other species so if you suspect fall armyworm, take a photo (caterpillars at least 2cm long) and call Biosecurity New Zealand’s Pest and Disease Hotline (0800 80 99 66) or report online at report.mpi.govt.nz/pest. Alternatively, you can report via https://www.findapest.nz/ (download the app).
Once you have reported your suspected find to MPI, please contact your crop manager or industry body for specific advice on the best management options for your crops. A fall armyworm quick growers guide will be included shortly on our website. It is attached, along with the fact sheet and identification guide, for ease of access. The guide provides further information on FAW, prevention, intervention, and management options.
It is really important that farmers and growers report any signs of fall army worm as this will help us build a good picture of exactly where this moth pest is and help with the development of long-term management guidance.
Find out more about fall armyworm