The Fall Armyworm (FAW), or Spodoptera frugiperda, is an insect
that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. In
the absence of natural control or good management, it can cause
significant damage to crops. It prefers maize, but can feed on more than
80 additional species of crops, including rice, sorghum, millet,
sugarcane, vegetable crops and cotton. FAW was first detected in Central
and Western Africa in early 2016 and has quickly spread across
virtually all of Sub-Saharan Africa. In July 2018 it was confirmed in
India and Yemen. Because of trade and the moth's strong flying ability,
it has the potential to spread further. Farmers will need great support
through Integrated Pest Management to sustainability manage FAW in their
cropping systems.
The FAMEWS Global Platform is an online resource for mapping data
collected by the FAMEWS mobile app whenever fields are scouted or
pheromone traps are checked for FAW. The platform provides a real-time
situation overview with maps and analytics of FAW infestations at
global, country and sub-country levels. The data and maps provide
valuable insights on how FAW populations change over time with ecology
in order to better understand its behaviour and guide best management
practices.