Fall armyworms, a longtime American pest, are munching their way around the globe, raising alarm now in Asia after entrenching themselves in Africa. The worms can cause damage at all stages of a corn crop, but the worst may be when the larvae, pinky-sized caterpillars turn sweet corn cobs to mush. Organic farmers don't use the usual farm chemicals so they can sell the waste corn stalks as cattle fodder. The FAO has developed an app that teaches the basics of how to find and deal with fall armyworms. But income from that is unstable, and the corn crop will be missed, Yodsapon says.

Source: ABC News March 19, 2019 05:37 UTC