Spodoptera frugiperda -a regulated pest in the EU and EPPO
Spodoptera frugiperda is recognised as a dangerous invasive pest across many countries that is confirmed by obtaining the status of regulated (quarantine) pest throughout the EU territory and the Eurasian Economic Union. Being a polyphagous pest, this armyworm threatens crops, especially maize, rice and sorghum in the countries with the warmer climate. The insect is capable of long-distance distribution by flying, and tends to be a polyvoltine species (4-6 generations per year) and has a huge egg-laying capacity (up to 1500 eggs per generation). At the demand of the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) prepared the pest survey card on Spodoptera frugiperda aiming at early detection and warning of pest, FAO developed the application for smartphones FAO-FAMEWS for contribution of data to an online FAMEWS global platform.