Presenter: Mr Mooketsa Ramasodi/ Mr Jan Hendrik Venter/ Ms Alice Baxter

Compiled by DAFF FAW Technical Team

Fall Armyworm in South Africa:

Briefing to Portfolio Committee on Agriculture,

Forestry & Fisheries, 14/02/2017

Outline of Presentation on Fall Armyworm (FAW)

Background

Status in SA

Host range and life cycle (pertinent to spread/ control)

Identification and damage

Control measures

Role of DAFF and PDAs in managing FAW

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Background: Fall Armyworm (FAW)

A migratory lepidopteran (moth) pest species with a wide host range.

Scientific name: Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera)

Common name: Fall Armyworm (FAW)

Originates in tropical regions of South America (e.g. Brazil, Argentina) and the

Caribbean region; also present in some southern states of the USA (Texas, Florida)

A serious pest of maize in Brazil and other countries

In Africa: reported in 2016 (West and Central Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe): yield

loss 30-60%

The adults (moths) are strong fliers for migrating to new areas on prevailing winds/

weather systems.

Status of FAW in South Africa

FAW is a quarantine pest for SA;

DAFF sent an alert out on 17 January 2017 in response to media reports of

this pest in Zambia and Zimbabwe

This prompted farmers to report suspected FAW caterpillars mainly from the

Limpopo and North West Provinces.

A preliminary action group met on 25 January2017 to initialize response

Larvae were collected, pupated and the emergent moths positively identified

by the ARC on 03/02/2017; male moths were also collected and identified on

03/02/2017, by the ARC-PPRI, Biosystematics Division as the Fall Armyworm

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Host plants/ host range

FAW can attack over 80 different plant species

Main hosts:

• Maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cotton, soybean, sugar cane

Additional host plants:

• Pasture- and other grasses, spinach, lucerne, sunflower,

wheat, cabbage, potatoes

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Distribution of FAW in SA so far:

Limpopo: reported by farmers as widespread (Musina, Pontdrift, Levubu,

Tshakuma, Punda Malia, Vivo, Marken, Dwaalboom, Thabazimbi, Lepalele,

Makopane, Mashashane, Chuniespoort, Mokgopong, Letsitele, Bochum, Bela

Bela, Settlers and Rust De Winter)

Confirmed at: Pontdrift, Musina, Levubu, Vivo, Makopane, Mashashane,

Mokgopong, Chuniespoort, Letsitele, Settlers and Rust De Winter

Gauteng: northern and eastern parts and confirmed at, Bon Accord, Pyramid,

Bronkhorstspruit and Roodeplaat.

North West: western parts, confirmed at Rustenburg and Swartruggens

Mpumalanga: Schoemanskloof, Hendrina, Middelburg

Free State: Petrus Steyn

Northern Cape: Douglas

Hosts plants reported indicate that the following have been attacked: maize

(especially sweetcorn, and seed maize) and sorghum

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FAW life-cycle: summary (pertinent to spread/ control)

It can attack over 80 different plant species

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Fall Armyworm: identification

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Fall Armyworm: identification (cont.)

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Adult Moth

Pupaeeggs

Larvae

Fall Armyworm: Damage

It feeds on leaves especially when they are still at younger growth stages.

Generally feeds on foliage, but during heavy infestations, larvae will also feed on

corn ears.

Foliar damage to corn is usually characterized by ragged feeding, and moist

sawdust-like frass near the leaf whorl and upper leaves of the plant.

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Damage by FAW (cont.)

In maize, silk (tassel) damage can lead to pollination problems

Early leaf whorl feeding damage

Stalk damage

Tassel feeding

Photos by Desiree Van Heerden from Sygenta

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Control measures for FAW

The following nine chemical active ingredients have been registered for use on FAW

in SA according to emergency registration procedures: Indoxacarb,

Chlorantraniliprole, Emamectin benzoate, Flubendiamide, Lufenuron,

Methomyl, Indoxacarb/ novaluron, Malathion, Chlorpyrifos; others are pending

registration

Producers are advised to do scouting in crop fields and apply the necessary pest

control measures according to manufacturer’s label instructions

Control guidelines for Fall armyworm in South Africa can be found on the DAFF

website: http://www.daff.gov.za/daffweb3/News-Room/Media-release/Fall-army-

outbreak-update

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http://www.daff.gov.za/daffweb3/News-Room/Media-release/Fall-army-outbreak-update

Control measures (cont.)

Precautionary measures when procuring and applying chemicals:

• Buy according to the proportion of the infestation

• Apply chemicals judiciously to avoid development of resistance

• Use registered chemicals recommended to control FAW

• Use chemicals at the dosage rates recommended on the product labels.

• Apply chemicals only against young instar larvae which are less 1cm long

• Note that application against older larvae is not successful as they feed deep

inside leaf whorls of plants and are therefore protected from contact with the

pesticide.

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Some of the applicable documents to guide control of the FAW

Legislative and Policy Framework

International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act no. 36 of 1983) of the RSA

Plant Health Policy of the RSA

South African Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan

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Some applicable support documents developed for FAW

Technical guidelines

• Scouting protocol

• Reporting template

• Pest fact sheet

• Interim pest management guideline for FAW

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Role of DAFF in managing FAW

Provide leadership (legislative and policy): JOC and pest action group set up;

Implement the South African Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan which

entails among others:

• Surveillance and monitoring

• Awareness to extension officers and scientists

• Inspections and issuing of regulatory orders

Data bank e.g. pest detections and coordination of research

Register chemicals and provide necessary guidance to PDAs

Solicit relevant resources and lead national coordination

Has notified the IPPC and neighbouring SADC countries

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Fall Army Worm Steering Committee

FAWSC: DAFF, Industry, Research, 9 provinces

DAFF FAWJOC: Different Directorates in DAFF

9x PROVJOC

Technical expert groups: GrainSA

SANSOR, IRAC, CropLife, CropWatch etc

Research groups: ARC, NWU etc.

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The role of PDAs

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Pest scouting, collection and reporting

Conduct awareness and education to producers

Solicit resources for control e.g. procure agrochemicals and traps

Promote integrated pest management

Participate in relevant joint actions with DAFF

For reporting all observations/outbreaks, please contact:

Directorate: Plant Health

Division: Early Warning System

Mr Jan Hendrik Venter

Tel: 012 319 6384/6104/ 0723488431

Email: JanHendrikV@daff.gov.za or janhendrikv@daff.gov.za

For any awareness activities, please contact:

Directorate: Food Import & Export Standards

Division: Plant Health promotions

Mr Mpho Sekgala/ Ms Rendani Thovhogi

Tel: 012 319 6295/6475

Email: MphoS@daff.gov.za/ RendaniTh@daff.gov.za

For applications for removal permits:

Directorate: Inspection Services

Tel: 012 309 8735

Email: MashangoaneM@daff.gov.za / RemovalPermits@daff.gov.za

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Reporting of outbreaks, and obtaining details of awareness actions

mailto:JanHenfrik@daff.gov.zaormailto:janhendrikv@daff.gov.zamailto:MphoS@daff.gov.za/RendaniTh@daff.gov.zamailto:MashangoaneM@daff.gov.zamailto:RemovalPermits@daff.gov.za