Researchers Examine Fungus as Natural Solution to Battle Crop-Damaging Pests

A fungus may help eradicate the fall armyworm, a pest that has spread across 80 countries and continues to destroy vital crop fields. Now, Australian researchers say a native fungus may offer a natural solution to stop the pest’s rapid spread.

In a study, it was revealed that the fall armyworm, originally from Central and South America, begins life as a tiny larva and later becomes a grey moth. Though it mostly targets corn, it also feeds on other important crops like wheat, cotton, sugarcane and other vegetables.

These pests move fast. They can travel long distances with help from strong winds and global trade routes. One recorded flight covered about 870 miles—from Mississippi to southern Canada—in just 30 hours, according to Johnnie van den Berg, a zoologist at North-West University in South Africa. He was not part of the new research but confirmed the species’ ability to spread quickly.

Female moth lays thousands of eggs

A single female moth can lay between 1,000 and 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. The larvae grow quickly, causing serious damage to crops within just one week of hatching. Because the worms are small and hard to spot, farmers often don’t notice them until the damage is already done.

Farmers have traditionally used chemical sprays to control the pest. However, the fall armyworm can develop resistance to pesticides, making them less effective over time. As a result, scientists have explored other methods such as natural viruses, plant-based sprays, and crops bred to be more resistant. However, many of these options are either too costly or difficult to apply on large farms.

Fungi that kills fall armyworms pest

In recent research, Australia’s Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has identified five types of fungi that can kill the fall armyworm within 24 hours. One of the most promising is Nomuraea rileyi, a fungus that sticks to the worm’s skin and then spreads inside its body, eventually killing it from within.

The DPI team shared their findings in March during a national meeting on pest control. While the study has not yet been published in a scientific journal, researchers are now working to get approval to sell N. rileyi as a pest control product for farmers.

Helpful bacteria

In a separate study, scientists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found more helpful fungi and bacteria. One type, Beauveria bassiana, killed about 75% of the worms in two days. They also tested a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which creates holes in the worms’ stomach lining and eventually kills them.

CSIRO biologist Wee Tek Tay said these fungi are commonly found in nature and are unlikely to harm the environment. Still, he warned that using biological tools without proper planning could lead to resistance, just like with chemical sprays.

Experts say more research is needed to confirm the fungi’s safety and effectiveness. But compared to chemical pesticides, they may offer a safer, long-term solution for protecting crops worldwide.