Taxonomic information	Current valid scientific name: Spodoptera frugiperdaSynonyms: Caradrina frugiperda, Laphygma frugiperda, Laphygma inepta, Laphygma macra, Noctua frugiperda, Phalaena frugiperda, Prodenia autumnalis, Prodenia plagiata, Prodenia signifera, Trigonophora frugiperdaName used in the EU legislation: Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) [LAPHFR]Order: LepidopteraFamily: NoctuidaeCommon name: alfalfa worm; buck worm; budworm; corn budworm; corn leafworm; cotton leaf worm; daggy's corn worm; fall armyworm; grass caterpillar; grass worm; maize budworm; overflow worm; rice caterpillar; southern armyworm; southern grass worm; wheat cutworm; whorl wormName used in the Dossier: –
Group	Insects
EPPO code	LAPHFR
Regulated status	The pest is listed in Part A of Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 as Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) [LAPHFR]. Spodoptera frugiperda is listed as a priority pest under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1702. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 and 2019/1598 lay down emergency measures to prevent the introduction and spread of S. frugiperda in the EU.Spodoptera frugiperda is included in the EPPO A1 list (EPPO, online_a).The pest is quarantine in Israel, Morocco and Tunisia (EPPO, online_b).
Pest status in Israel	Spodoptera frugiperda is present in Israel. First record of the pest was reported in late July 2020, in Southern (in Western Negev) and Northern Israel (in Bet Shaan valley) and official control measures are being implemented (EPPO Reporting Service (2020/161), online).
Pest status in the EU	Spodoptera frugiperda is absent in the EU (EPPO, online_c).In 1999, the pest was intercepted in Germany from the USA and was successfully eradicated (EPPO Reporting Service (2000/171), online).
Host status on Ficus carica	Ficus carica is a host of S. frugiperda among hundreds of other host plants, mainly herbaceous (EPPO, online_d; Montezano et al., 2018). Schmidt‐Durán et al. (2014) consider it as a pest of F. carica in Costa Rica plantations.
PRA information	Pest Risk Assessments available: – Assessment of the potential impact of American Spodoptera species for the European Union (van der Gaag and van der Straten, 2017), – Scientific Opinion on the pest risk assessment of Spodoptera frugiperda for the European Union (EFSA PLH Panel, 2018), – Pest Risk Assessment of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda in Egypt (Heinrichs et al., 2018).
Other relevant information for the assessment
Biology	Spodoptera frugiperda is native to tropical and subtropical America (Sparks, 1979) and during summer migrates to temperate regions of North and South America (Johnson, 1987). The pest was introduced to Africa in 2016 (Goergen et al., 2016), Asia in 2018 (Ganiger et al., 2018) and Australia in 2020 (FAO, online). Since then it is rapidly spreading throughout all three continents (EPPO, online_e).It has two morphologically identical strains with different host preference, also called host forms. Corn strain prefers maize, sorghum and cotton. Rice strain prefers rice and wild grasses (Juárez et al., 2014). Life stage of S. frugiperda consists of egg, six larval instars, pupa and adult (Sparks, 1979). In some scientific papers it was reported that there can be five or even up to eight larval instars. Adult longevity is approximately between 12 to 18 days. Total generation time can last from 28 to 90 days depending on the temperature (Johnson, 1987). In laboratory conditions developmental time from egg to adult varied between 18 days at 35.0°C and 66 days at 15.6°C (Barfield et al., 1978).Adults are nocturnal and can fly long distances. Females produce sex pheromones to attract males to mate. The mating starts second day after the emergence of adults. Females can mate several times but only once per night (Sparks, 1979). Reproductive rate is between 900 to 1000 eggs per female (Johnson, 1987). Eggs are laid in clusters, on average between 100 to 200 eggs (dos Santos et al., 2004). They are usually on underside of leaves, but when the population is high the eggs are laid over the entire plant (Johnson, 1987).The first instars move to find suitable feeding sites on the plant where eggs were laid (Pannuti et al., 2015). First three instar larvae are quite small and eat around 2% of the total life consumption (Sparks, 1979). At high larval densities larvae can become cannibalistic (Andow et al., 2015). The sixth instar drops to the ground. The larva then pupates in the soil in depth of approximately between 2.5 and 7.5 cm (Sparks, 1979). If the population is high the pupation can occur also on plant parts (Johnson, 1987). The pupal stage lasts around 7 days at 29°C, while at 15°C, it takes ~ 37 days (Sparks, 1979).Spodoptera frugiperda lacks diapause mechanism and overwinters in mild climates in any developmental stage (Sparks, 1979).It is a migratory species with long‐distance migrations (up to several hundred km) possibly helped by wind. The number of generations per year depends on temperature. There are continuous generations all year around in Central and South America (Johnson, 1987) where there can be four to six generations annually (CABI, online). There is no information about the current population in Israel so it can be assumed that any developmental stage can be found in the winter period.
Symptoms	Main type of symptoms	On leaves, larvae of S. frugiperda cause window‐pane damage, large holes, ragged edges and presence of frass. Holes can be observed also on fruits. When the infestation is high plants may look as if they have been hit by a severe hailstorm (CABI, online).
	Presence of asymptomatic plants	No report was found on the presence of asymptomatic plants.
	Confusion with other pathogens/pests	Spodoptera frugiperda can be confused with other Spodoptera species, in the early larval stages with S. littoralis, S. litura and S. exigua (EPPO, 2015). Adults are very similar to S. exempta and S. littoralis (EPPO, 2020).
Host plant range	Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous pest of crops, ornamental plants and weeds. In America, it was reported to feed on plants belonging to 76 families, mainly on Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae (Montezano et al., 2018).Main economic damage of S. frugiperda is on maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), cotton (Gossypium) and soybean (Glycine max) (Montezano et al., 2018). Spodoptera frugiperda is a pest of F. carica in Costa Rica (Schmidt‐Durán et al., 2014).Other host plants are onion (Allium cepa), garlic (Allium sativum), asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), aster (Aster sp.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), Brassica spp., pepper (Capsicum annuum), coconut (Cocos nucifera), melon (Cucumis melo), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), carrot (Daucus carota), fig (Ficus carica), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), mango (Mangifera indica), banana (Musa paradisiaca), rice (Oryza sativa), avocado (Persea americana), beans (Phaseolus), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), potato (Solanum tuberosum), vine grape (Vitis vinifera) and many more (Montezano et al., 2018).
Pathways	Possible pathways of entry for S. frugiperda are plant products from where the pest is present, sweet corn, peppers, asparagus, eggplants, other vegetables, cut flowers of roses and cut flowers of other plants (EFSA PLH Panel, 2018). The Panel assumes that soil could be a pathway in case plants are traded with soil.
Surveillance information	No surveillance information for this pest is currently available from PPIS. There is no information on whether the pest has ever been found in the nursery or their surrounding environment.