Fall armyworm research, development and extension for horticulture

Welcome to the fall armyworm eHub!

On this site you can engage with the latest fall armyworm (FAW) research, development and extension (R, D & E) activities for horticulture:

read the latest news updates on FAW management, moth activities and seasonal patterns, and insecticide resistance results
access FAW R, D & E resources
engage in discussion, report on FAW activities, ask a question and provide feedback
find FAW-related event information.

To receive updates on information added to this page, register on this eHub and 'follow' the fall armyworm project.

This eHub page is delivered as part of the Hort Innovation funded project VG22006 'National Fall Armyworm (FAW) innovation system for the Australian vegetable industry'.

What's happening in fall armyworm research, development and extension?

Stay up to date with fall armyworm (FAW) research, development, and extension activities across FAW area-wide management regions.

The national FAW extension project (VG22006) is establishing area-wide management groups in the Bowen / Burdekin (North Queensland), Lockyer Valley (South East Queensland) and East Gippsland (Victoria) regions. In each region, researchers and extension officers are working with growers, agronomists, and industry participants to generate knowledge and tools for sustainable FAW management through a range of activities. Here are the activities currently underway. For questions or feedback, click on the contact name to email the researcher or extension officer or use the 'Questions and Information Request' tab at the top right corner of the FAW eHub.

Bowen / Burdekin, Queensland (2025-2026)

Demonstration / trial sites:
- Biopesticides trial to manage FAW in sweet corn (Ian Newton)
- Correlation between FAW trap catches and egg lays in sweet corn field (John Stanley)
FAW monitoring: Pheromone trapping (John Stanley)
Engagement activity, extension and communication: Field walk, Industry meeting (Ramesh Puri)

Lockyer Valley, South East Queensland (2025-2026)

Sweet corn varietal trial to understand the feeding behaviour of FAW - (Frezzel Tadle, John Duff).
FAW collection in Lockyer and Fassifern Valley for insecticide resistance testing - (Frezzel Tadle, John Duff)
FAW industry meeting/field day (sometime Feb or March) – (Frezzel Tadle, Melina Miles, John Duff)
FAW monitoring: Pheromone trapping (Frezzel Tadle)
FAW collections for inclusion in the resistance screening, with a focus on grain crops (maize in particular), complement the collections from horticultural crops being made by Praise
Participation in the development of an IRMS for FAW, with consideration for insecticide use patterns in non-horticultural crops grown in the region.
Engagement activity: Farm walk and Industry meeting (Frezzel Tadle)

East Gippsland, Victoria (2025-2026)

FAW monitoring: Pheromone trapping (Scott Botten)
FAW identification: LAMP testing (Scott Botten)
Engagement activity: Farm walk, Industry meeting (Scott Botten)

Stay up to date with activities across all FAW area-wide management regions through the FAW eHub and newsletter (Ramesh Puri).

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Stay up to date with fall armyworm (FAW) research activities across Australia. Various organisations are working on FAW management solutions including biological control, companion planting, and crop and pest monitoring.

Below are some of the activities currently underway. For questions or feedback, click on the contact’s name to email the researcher or use the 'Questions and Information Request' tab at the top right corner of this page.

Department of Primary Industries, Queensland in 2025/26:

Bowen, Qld:
- Biopesticide trial to manage FAW in sweet corn
  - Trials undertaken by Ian Newton, DPI, Qld

Lockyer Valley/Toowoomba DPI, Qld

Evaluation of the potential for FAW pheromone traps to indicate changes in FAW activity in an adjacent field (November–January).
- Results will be discussed with growers and agronomists at the FAW AWM LV meetings.
Participation in the FAW Roadshow – Trevor Volp attending and presenting at meetings in WA (Carnarvon and Geraldton)
Preparation of practical resources for industry (FAW risk for different regions, field guide to natural enemies of FAW).

Macquarie University

Applied BioSciences, Attraction of predaceous arthropods to fall armyworm damaged plants and identification of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) - implications for biocontrol (2024/25).
- Trials undertaken by Rehan Silva, Vivian Mendez
Applied BioSciences, Towards sustainable management of FAW: Potentials of egg parasitoids (2025/26)

Trials undertaken by Rabia Ali, Bishwo Mainali

Applied BioSciences, Influence of host plants and temperature on biology and pheromone production of FAW (2025/26)

Trials undertaken by Rajendra Regmi, Bishwo Mainali

Growers in the Lockyer Valley, Bowen region, and Wide Bay Burnett can now see daily updates on fall armyworm (FAW) activity in their region, thanks to a groundbreaking project, “FAW National Surveillance,” exploring the use of RapidAIM traps to combat the invasive pest. The project is led and implemented by Bowen Gumlu Growers Association with funding through the VegNET Innovation fund. The project will utilise the National Vegetable Extension Network team of Regional Development Officers to coordinate and install the RapidAim traps and provide support to participating growers. This project aims to provide growers with real-time data on FAW populations, empowering them to make informed decisions about pest management strategies. As the network of RapidAIM traps rolls out, data provided by the internet-connected traps is fed into the National Fall Armyworm Monitoring Information pages.

Bowen RapidAIM Regional Report (Qld)
Wide Bay Burnett RapidAIM Regional Report (Qld)
Lockyer Valley RapidAIM Regional Report (Qld)
Gippsland RapidAIM Regional Report (Vic)
Goulburn Valley RapidAIM Regional Report (Vic)
NSW RapidAIM Regional Report (NSW)

VegNET 3.0 is a vegetable and onion industry extension program nationally coordinated by AUSVEG and funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable and onion research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government.

Latest news and updates

Bundaberg fall armyworm roadshow: Improving practical management

The VG22006 National fall armyworm project Bundaberg roadshow brought together 25 growers, agronomists, researchers and industry representatives for technical, hands-on and panel sessions. The project shared learnings on pheromone trapping, egg-laying and crop monitoring, alongside practical messages on pest identification, timely scouting, beneficial organisms and integrated pest management.

Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda insecticide resistance surveillance

The testing results to date indicate no change in susceptibility to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spinetoram or indoxacarb in FAW populations from Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales. Insecticide resistance surveillance is a critical component of FAW management, enabling early detection of changes in susceptibility and informing strategies to minimise the risk of resistance-driven control failures.

Strengthening facilitation skills across the fall armyworm project team

What makes an extension activity meaningful, engaging and effective? The workshop strengthened participants’ skills in extension planning, facilitation, engagement, listening, questioning and evaluation. Interactive tools demonstrated practical ways to support inclusive learning and practice change, reinforcing the importance of planning. Thirteen representatives from DPI, VegNET, Hort Innovation and Agriculture Victoria attended the two-day Brisbane workshop facilitated by Jeanette Long.

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