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Why is the fall armyworm called the "army" of agriculture? How alarming is its aggressive behavior?
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is known as the "agricultural army" in the agricultural community because its larval stage has large-scale aggressive behavior and can quickly destroy crops and cause significant economic losses.
The fall armyworm is a common pest throughout the Americas, and its larval stage is known for its intensely aggressive behavior. These larvae are hungry and good at large-scale movement. They can quickly destroy crops such as cotton and corn, and then plunder farmland. This is one of the reasons why it is called an army insect. Due to their diverse diet, it is reported that they can eat up to 80 different plant species, including dozens of commercial crops.
According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), if effective control measures are not taken, fall armyworm will reduce corn production by 17.7 million metric tons each year.
The aggressive behavior of the fall armyworm affects not only U.S. agriculture but also threatens farmland worldwide. This pest first appeared in Africa in 2016 and has since spread to many countries, posing major challenges to food security in many places. African countries have therefore begun to urgently respond to this invasive pest, and farmers and experts in many places are actively looking for effective control methods. The reproduction rate of these insects is astonishing, and coupled with the destructive power of their larvae, local agriculture suffers heavy losses in a short period of time.
The life cycle of the autumn armyworm is generally 30 days, which masks its rapid proliferation and prevents many farmers from responding in time. Its adult mosquitoes can lay more than 1,500 eggs in the shortest time, and once the larvae hatch, they will cause unimaginable noise to surrounding crops in just a few days. The larvae thus act as a vanguard in farmland, destroying the majestic fields quickly and ruthlessly.
“They are so destructive that they often have devastating effects overnight.”
Although various prevention and control measures are available, farmers in many countries still face difficulties. This insect is extremely adaptable and can take advantage of climate changes to migrate over long distances. For example, it can easily migrate from one area to another along with air currents, which undoubtedly makes prevention and control operations complex and difficult.
In Africa, the first invasion of this pest caused significant losses to local corn production, not only at an economic level, but also affecting farmers' livelihoods and food security. In Asia, since it was first discovered in Bangladesh in 2018, the fall armyworm is also rapidly spreading to other countries, such as India and Sri Lanka, posing a significant threat to local agriculture.
Faced with this challenge, agricultural experts and government agencies in various countries are working hard to explore innovative solutions and work together to combat this increasingly serious problem. Many places have begun to use biological control methods, such as using natural enemy insects or microbial agents to control the population of armyworms.
Finally, the cold winter will no longer be a "habitat" for autumn armyworms, and their presence will continue to threaten global crop production. How exactly will this impact our food supply chain?
