Fall Armyworm report confirmed in Eastern Cape

The current Fall Armyworm outbreak has resulted in confirmed cases in all South African provinces except the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. A recent confirmed case in the Eastern Cape was reported at the weekly Fall Armyworm Steering Committee meeting of 10 May 2017. Samples were collected and sent for positive identification which confirmed the species was now in the province. The pest has been reported in areas such as Port Shepstone, Port Edward, Port St Johns as well as some areas in KwaZulu-Natal province that lie on the border of the two provinces. Farmers in these and surroundings areas are advised to be especially vigilant and to scout their fields diligently even in the winter months as they may be ideal for the overwintering of the exotic pest.

Countries with confirmed presence of the pest