FALL ARMYWORM (FAW)

Fall armyworm (FAW)

Introduction

Fall armyworm (FAW) [Scientific name: Spodoptera frugiperda] is an insect pest with moth as the adult stage and larvae (caterpillars) as the destructive stage. In Kenya, the pest was first observed in March 2017 on off-season, irrigated maize crops. Maize is the pest’s most preferred host but can also attack crop plants such as sorghum, rice and wheat.