Farmers in Victoria are encouraged to keep an eye out for Fall Armyworm (FAW), a newly established pest in the state, and attend an information session to learn more. Agriculture Victoria Gippsland Horticulture Program Coordinator Scott Botten said FAW is now considered established in Australia after being found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and a single location in East Gippsland in December 2020.
Fall Armyworm is a highly invasive and destructive caterpillar native to tropical and subtropical regions, however, has recently been sighted in the colder areas of Victoria. It is not yet known if FAW will be able to persist over winter.
'Fall Armyworm is known to feed on more than 350 plant species, including maize, cotton, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, wheat and many other vegetable and fruit crops. Young caterpillars feed on leaves, creating pinholes and giving a tattered appearance. Meanwhile, mature caterpillars can cause extensive damage by grazing on leaf stems and trunks and tunnelling into fruit.'
Mr Botten said numbers of the pest can increase quickly due to their fast reproductive cycle. Adult moths are capable of flying long distances and can also be spread via storm events.
Agriculture Victoria is holding an information session for farmers in East Gippsland, in partnership with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and VegNET Gippsland, on Tuesday 3 September, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Lindenow Farmers Home Hotel.
'We are fortunate to have national experts presenting, so farmers can hear the latest information and ask questions to get a better understanding of the pest and what it means for their business,' added Mr Botten.
Growers and agronomists in east and central Gippsland can bring samples of suspected FAW to the Agriculture Victoria office in Maffra to arrange for free LAMP testing. This test can confirm suspected FAW and assist in the management of the pest.
For more information:
Makayla Rimington
Agriculture Victoria
Tel.: +61 0473 914 662