Our use of Cookies

This site uses only cookiesstrictly necessaryto ensure the site works correctly.

Please read about how we use cookies.

Hide this message

Strictly necessary and non-essential cookies

Accept all cookies

Accept necessary cookies only

Set Cookie Preferences

By clicking accept all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies and to our cookie policy.

We use third-party cookies on this site.

You have accepted necessary cookies only

You can change your cookie settings at any time

Hide this message

UK Risk Register Details for Spodoptera frugiperda

This record was last updated on 30/10/2023

Common Names

  • Fall armyworm
  • Grass worm

Scenario and Pathways

Scenario for Risk Register

  • show / hide
  • Pest is introduced

Pathway Assessed for Entry to UK

  • show / hide
  • Plants for planting (except seeds bulbs and tubers)

Common Pathways

  • show / hide
  • Plants for planting (except seeds bulbs and tubers)
  • Fruits or vegetables

Risk Ratings and Current Mitigations

Unmitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 4
Spread [1 - 5] 5
Impact [1 - 5] 3
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 5
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 12
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 60

Current Mitigations

  • show / hide

Key mitigation for pest

Regulated quarantine pest. Regulated by emergency measures.

Regulation

Surveillance

Industry Scheme

Contingency Plan

Awareness

Research

Mitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 2
Spread [1 - 5] 5
Impact [1 - 5] 3
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 5
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 6
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 30

Proposed Actions

Proposed Actions

Regulation

Deregulation

Management By Industry

Targeted Survey

PRA

Contingency Plan

Publicity

Research

Distribution and Pest Details

Distribution

Country / Territory Status Notes
Europe
Spain Present Present, only in the Canary Islands, under official control.
Romania Present (Limited) Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
Cyprus Present Under eradication.
Türkiye Present (Limited)
United Kingdom Absent
Greece Present (Limited) Under eradication
Portugal Present (Limited) Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned (Madeira).
North America
Canada Present
Mexico Present
United States Present
South America
Argentina Present
Bolivia Present
Brazil Present
Chile Present
Colombia Present
Ecuador Present
French Guiana Present
Guyana Present
Paraguay Present
Peru Present
Suriname Present
Uruguay Present
Venezuela Present
Oceania
Solomon Islands Present
Vanuatu Present (Limited) Present: at low prevalence.
Australia Present
Africa
Liberia Present
Madagascar Present
Malawi Present
Egypt Present
Mali Present
Namibia Present
Niger Present
Nigeria Present
Rwanda Present
Sao Tome and Principe Present
Senegal Present
Seychelles Present
Sierra Leone Present
Somalia Present
South Africa Present
South Sudan Present
Sudan Present
[Kingdom of] eSwatini Present
Tanzania Present
Togo Present
Uganda Present
Zambia Present
Zimbabwe Present
Mauritius Present
Mozambique Present
Equatorial Guinea Present
Mauritania Present
Angola Present
Benin Present
Botswana Present
Burkina Faso Present
Burundi Present
Cameroon Present
Cabo Verde Present
Central African Republic Present
Chad Present
Congo (Brazzaville) Present
Congo (Democratic Rep.) Present
Cote d'Ivoire Present
Ethiopia Present
Gabon Present
Gambia Present
Ghana Present
Guinea Present
Guinea-Bissau Present
Kenya Present
Asia
Japan Present
China Present
United Arab Emirates Present
Myanmar Present
Sri Lanka Present
Thailand Present
Yemen Present
India Present
South Korea Present
Brunei Present
Cambodia Present
Iran Present (Limited)
Philippines Present
Lebanon Present
Pakistan Present
Israel Present
Taiwan Present
Vietnam Present
Central America
Antigua and Barbuda Present
Bahamas Present
Barbados Present
Belize Present
Bermuda Present
British Virgin Islands Present
Cayman Islands Present
Costa Rica Present
Cuba Present
Dominica Present
Dominican Republic Present
El Salvador Present
Grenada Present
Guadeloupe Present
Guatemala Present
Haiti Present
Honduras Present
Jamaica Present
Martinique Present
Nicaragua Present
Panama Present
Puerto Rico Present
Saint Kitts and Nevis Present
Saint Lucia Present
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Present
Trinidad and Tobago Present

Type of Pest

  • Insect (Lepidoptera)

Host or Industry at Risk

  • show / hide

Graminae

Major Hosts

  • Allium cepa L.
  • Arachis hypogaea L.
  • Brassica L.
  • Capsicum L.
  • Capsicum annuum L.
  • Chrysanthemum L.
  • Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai
  • Cucumis melo L.
  • Cucumis sativus L.
  • Cucurbita maxima Duch.
  • Cucurbitaceae (family)
  • Dendranthema (Dc.) Desmoul.
  • Dianthus L.
  • Dianthus caryophyllus L.
  • Poaceae (family)
  • Ipomoea batatas (L.) Poir./Lam.
  • Solanum lycopersicum L.
  • Medicago sativa L.
  • Momordica L.
  • Nicotiana tabacum L.
  • Oryza sativa L.
  • Pelargonium L'Herit. Ex Ait.
  • Phaseolus vulgaris L.
  • Raphanus L.
  • Saccharum officinarum L.
  • Solanum aethiopicum L./Torner
  • Solanum macrocarpon (= macrocarpum) L.
  • Solanum melongena L.
  • Sorghum vulgare Pers.
  • Zea mays L.
  • Brassicaceae (family)
  • Gossypium hirsutum

Threats to Protected Cultivation

Forest Tree Pests and Pathogens

Further Information

PRA Availability

PRA not available

Regulation and EPPO listing

  • show / hide

Regulated quarantine pest. Regulated by emergency measures. EPPO A2

Actions Indicated

  • show / hide

Action

Statutory action against findings.

General Comments

Regulated American polyphagous moth pest, detected in Africa in 2016, Asia in 2018, and Australia in 2020. Intercepted occasionally in the UK, but no evidence of introduction.

Risk Records for this Pest