A Complicated Compilation of Hungry Caterpillars on Bt Maize in Africa
On smallholder farms using Bt maize in Africa, the combination of reduced field size and multiple pests presents challenges to insecticide resistance management. A new report in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management offers recommendations for best practices.
New Study Reveals Natural Enemies of Fall Armyworm in Both Asia and Africa
In the response to the fall armyworm's arrival in Africa and Asia, researchers have now identified parasitoid wasp species serving as natural enemies of the crop pest on both continents.
Mixing Lawn Grass Varieties Could Trim Fall Armyworm Infestations
A simple change in the choice of grass varieties for lawns of St. Augustinegrass could be a key tool for fending off fall armyworm infestations, according to new research. While no single St. Augustinegrass cultivar rises above the rest in resisting infestation, mixing varieties may confer some benefits, as fall armyworms clearly preferred single-cultivar plantings in a series of lab tests.
Not Just Maize: Africa’s Fall Armyworm Crisis Threatens Sorghum, Other Crops, Too
The fall armyworm's impact on maize earns plenty of attention, but it is in fact polyphagous. Sorghum, a key cereal crop in Africa, is also vulnerable to the pest's damage, and researchers are working on biocontrol and other integrated pest management methods in hopes of containing the fall armyworm's impact around the world.