Fall armyworm
Fall armyworm
Description
As fall armyworm has been declared ineradicable, it is important to be able to identify the larvae and to understand how to manage the pest in the Bollgard® 3 cotton.
Identifying fall armyworm
CottonInfo has distributed a guide on how to identify fall armyworm. The publication can be found here.
Not all areas of Australia will provide suitable environmental conditions for this pest all year round.
Fall armyworm does not diapause, so it may not survive in all cropping regions through the winter, however the moth may be capable of moving large distances from areas in northern Queensland in spring and summer to all cotton growing regions.
Due to its ability to move large distances, it is important to be on the lookout for fall armyworm in Bollgard 3 cotton crops and refuges.
Fall armyworm in cotton
Fall armyworm may defoliate cotton and can also cause damage to squares and bolls. Bollgard 3 technnology is not registered to control fall armyworm and therefore cotton crops containing this technology trait should be protected as required.
Refuge management and the resistance management plan (RMP)
Due to the damage this pest can cause, it is vital that unsprayed refuges be checked regularly for fall armyworm. This pest could be capable of impacting the refuge to the point that it may become unattractive and therefore non-compliant.
The Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan (RMP) states “if the viability of an unsprayed refuge is at risk due to early or late season pressure by Helicoverpa spp., or any other caterpillar species, contact Monsanto Australia immediately. With prior approval from Monsanto Australia, a non-Bt heliocide can be applied.”
As with all refuge related issues, the earlier contact is made with your local Territory Business Manager (TBM) the easier it is to rectify.
Managing fall armyworm
