The Fall Army Worm Looks Like It Is Here To Stay

The Fall army worm looks like it is here to stay. Eggs from the pest were first found in Tauranga last year and then in the South Island for the first time in January. The Foundation for Arable Research says in the last few weeks large fall army worm moth flights were seen in Northland. The “fall” army worm, gets its name because it can cause devastating damage to autumn crops. The worm has caused millions of dollars worth of crop damage in China, the United States, Brazil and across Africa and the number of farms where the pest is found has more than doubled since January, with finds on 139 farms across New Zealand. Biosecurity New Zealand Director for readiness and response John Walsh says Long-term management which focusses on stopping pests from spreading widely or causing significant damage will begin this week. He says while it is too early to understand the full impacts of fall army worm on the industry, it is encouraging that pesticides appear to be controlling the insect.