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 (2024-2025)

Demonstration / trial sites:
- FAW pupae busting in sweet corn (John Stanley)
- Exploring FAW sources (John Stanley)
- Biopesticides trial to manage FAW in sweet corn (Ian Newton)
FAW monitoring: Pheromone trapping (John Stanley)
Engagement activity, extension and communication: Field walk, Industry meeting (Ramesh Puri)

Lockyer Valley, South East Queensland (2024-2025)

Demonstration / trial sites:
- Banding spray in sweet corn (John Duff)
- Laboratory trial on possible factitious host for Telenomus remus (Frezzel Tadle)
- Proposed screening of sweet corn varieties against fall armyworm (John Duff / Frezzel Tadle)
FAW monitoring: Pheromone trapping (Frezzel Tadle)
Engagement activity: Farm walk and Industry meeting (Frezzel Tadle)

East Gippsland, Victoria (2024-2025)

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).

(Image credit: location pins designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik)

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 (2024-25):

Bowen, Qld:
- Initial trial with push-pull intercropping, evaluating contribution to mitigating impacts of FAW in sweet corn (cowpea and sunn hemp as intercrop options). Sep – Dec 2024.

- Assessing attraction of natural enemies to feeding attractants in sweet corn (e.g. Magnet).
- Assessing the impact of FAW on capsicum.
  - Trials undertaken by John Stanley and Melina Miles, DPI, Qld.
Lockyer Valley/Toowoomba DPI, Qld
- Evaluating the potential of intercropping to mitigate impacts of FAW in sweet corn (cowpea and sunn hemp as intercrop options). Modifying approach used in Bowen to increase practicality for growers. Jan – Mar 2025.
  - Trials undertaken by Adam Quade and Melina Miles, DPI, Qld.
- Host preference (moth and larval behaviour) of FAW for capsicum at different stages of fruit maturity. Controlled glasshouse trials.
  - Trials undertaken by Trevor Volp, DPI, Qld

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

Macquarie University

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

Trials undertaken by Rabia Ali, Bishwo Mainali

Applied BioSciences, Influence of host plants and temperature on biology and pheromone production of FAW

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

Advancing fall armyworm management in Bowen

Twenty-four agronomists and researchers met at the Bowen research facility to discuss management strategies against fall armyworm. Key insights included current very low FAW levels across the trapping network in Bowen. Dr Ian Newton (DPI Mareeba) discussed a new biopesticide, Metarhizium rileyi, that was promising in trials and they are looking to commercialise. Dr John Stanley reported that the pupae-busting trials reduced moth emergence by up to 80%.

The potential of the spotted ladybird (Harmonia conformis) as a predator against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae

Researchers investigated the potential of the spotted ladybird (Harmonia conformis) as a predator against fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae. Feeding trials showed the ladybirds consumed neonates to second instar larvae but avoided later instars. Olfactometer bioassays revealed that H. conformis was attracted to sweet corn seedlings damaged by larvae, using plant volatiles as cues, while female FAW were not.

Researchers advancing fall armyworm pheromone blends

Macquarie University researchers, led by Dr. Vivian Mendez, are advancing fall armyworm (FAW) pheromone blends under Hort Innovation project AS21000. They evaluated four commercial lures across 30 sites in four Australian states to monitor FAW seasonality and population abundance while minimizing by-catch. Preliminary results show regional differences in lure efficacy. Using chemical analysis, the team aims to optimize lure performance by refining pheromone components.

National workshop in Tatura unites agronomists to tackle fall armyworm

In response to industry concerns over fall armyworm (FAW), Agriculture Victoria brought together 17 agronomists from Victoria’s grains, dairy fodder and horticulture sectors for a workshop in Tatura on 23 October. The event was supported by the National fall armyworm innovation system for the Australian vegetable industry (VG22006) project, National Vegetable Extension Network (VegNET) and the Maize Association of Australia, and provided up-to-date knowledge on FAW management for local growers

Cross–industry stakeholders meet to talk about fall armyworm in Lockyer Valley

On 12 September 2024, twenty participants, including growers, agronomists, extension workers, and researchers gathered at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' (DAF) Gatton Research Facility to discuss fall armyworm (FAW) in the Lockyer Valley. The meeting was conducted as part of the project VG22006 National fall armyworm innovation system for the Australian vegetable Industry.

Fall armyworm workshop ramps up awareness across East Gippsland (Victoria)

Over the last two years, fall armyworm (FAW) has become a potential pest in Victoria for current and future climates, with impacts on corn and maize crop production along with risks to many other grains and horticultural crops.