Work continues to evaluate the degree of spread and the degree of risk posed by fall armyworm.
The objectives of the current fall armyworm response are to:
- Understand the distribution of FAW within NZ using sector-led surveillance
- Effectively manage identified FAW populations, reducing the risk of a reservoir population growing at the start of next spring.
- Further understand FAW’s ability to persist in NZ and specific impacts to growers and taonga species
Biosecurity New Zealand had received 301 enquiries related to FAW as of 10 June 2022. There are now a total of 23 confirmed detections
- 22 infested properties + 1 location of interest
Read Biosecurity NZ update here
History of incursion
An egg mass was found on 16 March 2022 in Tauranga on the outside of an Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) trap. This egg mass was submitted to Plant Heath Environment Laboratory (PHEL) and identified as the Unwanted Organism Fall armyworm (FAW) on 24 March 2022. Then, on 2 April 2022 mature caterpillars were found by a grower on volunteer corn in a paddock at Waikato.
Following the positive identification of FAW by PHEL on 11 April, the surrounding area was inspected by Biosecurity New Zealand, which identified FAW at a further property two kilometres away.
It is believed that the arrival of FAW in New Zealand was via wind-dispersal from the east coast of Australia, following a recent outbreak in that region combined with favourable win conditions facilitating transport over the Tasman Sea.