The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is a pest of maize on the American continents but has since been detected in West and Central Africa where out breaks were recorded for the first time in early 2016. The pest is now being reported in Southern Africa. In Zambia , preliminary surveillance conducted by Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) through its National Plant Protection Organisation, the Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service and the Entomology Team suspected presence of the pest.
Summary
This a preliminary report on suspected Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in Zambia.
Danger
Destruction of crops; maize, sorghum, soya beans and beans. Destruction on maize crops during larvals stage feeding. Threatens food security and income of small scale farmers growing the above crops particularly maize for Zambia. If unmanaged, potential for destruction is high.
Contact for info
Dr. Kenneth K Msiska
National Contact Point
Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service
Zambia Agriculture Research Institute
P/BAG 7,
Chilanga
Lusaka
Zambia.
[email protected]
Insects/Insecta/Arthropods
Pest reporting
Pest status:Present/Presence
Commodity keywords
Dried, shelled beans -Vigna and Phaseolus-, whether or not skinned or split (excl. beans of species -Vigna mungo [L] Hepper or Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek-, small red -Adzuki- beans and kidney beans)
Grain sorghum
Maize or corn