Fall armyworm discovered in western Iran ^{CEFR B2}

Researchers from Lorestan University confirmed the presence of fall armyworm in Lorestan province after genetic testing of larvae collected in maizefields. The finding appears in the June issue of Asia Pacific Entomology. While field data on damage in Lorestan are still pending, the detection has raised concern because the insect feeds on more than 80 crops and is especially harmful to maize.

CABI reports that fall armyworm can cut maize yields by up to 60 per cent. The pest, native to tropical Latin America, has spread to Africa, Asia and Australia. Scientists warn that the ongoing war in the Middle East could worsen the response: disruptions to maritime and air travel in the Gulf may delay interventions and interrupt supply chains for agricultural inputs passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Conflict can also hamper surveillance, coordination and timely action, which may lead to underreporting of outbreaks.

Advisers such as Abdul Rehman at CABI recommend early scouting, biocontrol and local biopesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis and neem extracts, plus training for farmers and extension workers through programmes CABI offers. Experts note that warm, irrigated rice and maize areas such as Khuzestan (where temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius favour the pest) are at risk. The insect found in Lorestan carries a genetic lineage associated with rice, which could threaten Iran’s 730,000 hectares of rice, though so far maize appears most damaged. The FAO said the concern is regional but not at panic levels and that institutions now have tools for early detection and response.