Finding the Western Hemisphere source of the fall armyworm invading Africa and Asia

Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly called fall armyworm (FAW), was found to be established in western Africa. This major pest of corn in the Western Hemisphere was then detected in most of sub-Saharan Africa by 2018 and much of central and southeastern Asia and Australia by 2020. Genetic markers are being used to investigate this invasion of FAW into the Eastern Hemisphere, including the most likely Western Hemisphere source population, the likely entry point into Africa, and the number of introductions. A summation of the results will be presented.