Fall Armyworm Threatens To Cause Food Crisis In Botswana

The Fall Armyworm  or Spodoptera frugiperda is described in widespread entomology literature, both online and offline, as “a species in the order of Lepidoptera and is the larval life stage of a fall armyworm moth.

“The term “armyworm” can refer to several species, often describing the large-scale invasive behaviour of the species’ larval stage. It is regarded as a pest and can damage and destroy a wide variety of crops, which causes large economic damage. Its scientific name derives from frugiperda, which is Latin for lost fruit, named because of the species’ ability to destroy crops,” said Wikipedia. Locally its spread has the potential to cause damage to the crop that could result in 80% losses, apparently defeating efforts of the country to reduce its already high food import bill.