Fall Armyworm could threaten the food security and livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers in Asia as the invasive crop-eating pest is highly likely to spread further from India, with South East Asia and South China most at risk, FAO warned today.

Recently detected in India - the first time it has been found in Asia - the insect has the capacity to fly over long distances (100 km per night) and ravage crops all year round given the region's favourable tropical and sub-tropical climate, which means there are always crops and weeds around that Fall Armyworm can feed on.

Fall Armyworm can eat maize and some 80 other crops, including rice, vegetables, groundnuts and cotton.