Fall armyworm larvae spread across Taiwan, adult moths caught in Matsu and Penghu raise alarm

Fall armyworm larvae have spread across all of Taiwan, and Matsu and Penghu have caught the first adult fall armyworm specimens, meaning the fall armyworm in China has officially established 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 the public to join in tracking down the pest.

Currently only larvae have been found on the main island. If it is confirmed that adult fall armyworms have invaded the main island, it will enter "Phase 2," adopting a mandatory spraying policy; and if spraying cannot bring it under control, it will shift to "Phase 3," using "self-management" to stretch out the epidemic prevention front. Chen Chun-chi, Deputy Minister of the Council of Agriculture, said with a grave expression, "(If we reach Phase 3) we may have to plan to coexist with the fall armyworm, because it may already be impossible to completely block it."

Larvae confirmed in 39 cases across five counties and cities in Taiwan, adult moths found in Matsu and Penghu

Fall armyworm is spreading across Taiwan. As of 12 noon today (the 14th), there have been nearly 200 reported cases across various areas, of which at least 39 cases have been confirmed as fall armyworm larvae, all located 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 adult moths yesterday; the former completed identification this morning and was confirmed to be adult fall armyworm, while the latter is still undergoing identification.

The fall armyworm is very good at flying. An adult can fly 100 km in one night and 1,000 km in its 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, a total of 4 adult detection points have been set up successively in the Nangan and Beigan areas. Yesterday afternoon, four adult moths were found at one of the points and were immediately sent to the main island for identification. At the same time, an internal "Fall Armyworm Emergency Response Team" was also established to respond and handle follow-up epidemic prevention matters.

(Updated at 19:00 on 6/14) The Response Center pointed out that the two adult moths caught in Penghu were confirmed after identification to be fall armyworm, and were found on the 12th in insect traps around corn fields at Magong Chongguang and Magong Huxi Jianshan respectively. No fall armyworm larvae have yet been found in the two corn fields, and they remain under close monitoring.