Fall armyworm has fallen across all of Taiwan, China! Larvae are spreading, and adults captured in Matsu raise the alarm

Fall armyworm larvae have spread across all of Taiwan, China, and Matsu has captured the first case of fall armyworm adults, which means the fall armyworm in China has officially seized a beachhead! The "Fall Armyworm Disaster Emergency Response Team" (abbreviated as the "Response Team") held an emergency press conference today (the 14th) to explain follow-up control measures, stressing that border surveillance and quarantine will be strengthened and calling on everyone to join in rooting out the pest.

At present, only larvae have been found on the main island. If it is confirmed that fall armyworm adults have invaded the main island, it will enter "Phase Two," adopting a mandatory spraying policy; and if spraying cannot control it, it will shift to "Phase Three," using "self-management" to stretch out the epidemic prevention line. Chen Chun-chi, deputy chairman of the Council of Agriculture, said with a grave expression, "(If we reach Phase Three) we may have to plan to coexist with the fall armyworm, because it may already be impossible to completely block it."

Five counties and cities across Taiwan, China confirm 39 larval cases; adults found in Matsu and Penghu

The fall armyworm is spreading across Taiwan, China. As of 12 noon today (the 14th), there have been nearly 200 reported cases in various places, of which at least 39 cases of fall armyworm larvae have been confirmed, all in corn fields, distributed across the five counties and cities of Miaoli, Yilan, Chiayi, Taitung and Hualien. In addition, surveillance points at Fu'ao Port in Matsu and Magong Port in Penghu also trapped adults yesterday; the former completed identification this morning and was confirmed to be fall armyworm adults, while the latter is still under identification.

The fall armyworm is very good at flying. Adults can fly 100 kilometers in one night and 1,000 kilometers in a lifetime. The offshore islands are only a few kilometers from China, and with the push of the southwest airflow, they are even more likely to become a beachhead for pest invasion. The Agriculture and Forestry Section of the Agricultural Development Department of Lianjiang County said that since last week it has successively set up a total of 4 adult detection points in the Nangan and Beigan areas. Yesterday afternoon, four adults were found at one of the points and immediately sent to the main island for identification. At the same time, an internal "Fall Armyworm Emergency Handling Team" was also established to respond and handle follow-up epidemic prevention matters.