Exotic pest fall armyworm spreads in North Queensland

The invasive moth pest was first detected in Australia on islands off the Torres Strait earlier this month and has since progressed to the mainland.

It was last week detected in Bamaga and officials are expecting to confirm another detection in the north west Gulf country later this week once tests are returned.

Fall armyworm is an invasive moth that feeds on hundreds of plant species, including maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, wheat, other horticultural crops and cotton.

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The Queensland government this week announced it would convene an urgent industry roundtable to discuss managing the serious threat the exotic pest posed.

Queensland agriculture minister, Mark Furner, said testing this week was expected to confirm an infestation of fall armyworm on a farming site in the north west Gulf region, the second detection of the pest on the Queensland mainland.

"This is disappointing but not entirely unexpected after recent detections in the Torres Strait and at Bamaga," Mr Furner said.

"If confirmed, it means the pest is likely to be widespread across northern Australia and eradication is therefore not possible.

"This pest moves and reproduces fast, is already common in our nearest neighbours, and could be continually reintroduced. It has never been eradicated anywhere else in the world."

Native to Central America, it can fly up to 500 kilometres and has spread quickly around the world.

It is already well established in south Asia and Indonesia, and can be active year-round in tropical areas such as north Queensland.

Mr Furner said he had contacted federal agriculture minister, David Littleproud, to discuss the threat and said he expected other state and territories would also cooperate.

"I have also asked my department to arrange a roundtable with industry leaders this week to update them on the situation and discuss what immediate steps can be taken to manage the inevitable impacts, as well as longer term actions," Mr Furner said.

Mr Furner said most growers already employed a range of on-farm pest management measures to protect their crops from pests and diseases.

"The Queensland government will work closely with industry to identify strategies for dealing with this new threat and protecting our valuable plant resources," he said.

"As well as the industry roundtable, a taskforce is being established within the department to ensure communication with industry is as effective and up to date as it can be.

"This group will also identify and mobilise any resources that will be required to respond to immediate needs."

LARVAE are light coloured with a larger darker head.

As they develop, they become browner with white lengthwise stripes and also develop dark spots with spines.

Adult moths are 32 to 40 mm in length wing tip to wing tip, with a brown or grey forewing and a white hind wing.

Male fall armyworm adults have more patterns and a distinct white spot on each of their forewings.

For information about on-farm biosecurity measures to protect their crops from pests and diseases, visit farmbiosecurity.com.au

Industry and the public are urged to report suspect detections of Fall armyworm moths and larvae to the national Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.