Fungus found to kill African armyworm in breakthrough
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- Letodi Luki Mathulwe discovered a naturally occurring fungus killing African armyworm caterpillars in KwaZulu-Natal grass fields, prompting lab testing to confirm its efficacy
- Mathulwe's team confirmed through peer-reviewed research that the fungus can target mature African armyworm populations, which chemical treatments have failed to control effectively
- African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) outbreaks in 2025 spread from northern South Africa to KwaZulu-Natal, triggering panic among farmers as the pests destroyed vital Kikuyu grass used for livestock grazing
- The fungus was observed enveloping dead caterpillars in a white substance, a phenomenon first noticed during an outbreak when infested fields showed sudden, unexplained insect die-offs
- Outbreaks of African armyworm have previously caused severe agricultural damage, including up to 40% maize loss in Zambia in 2017 and contributed to food price spikes in Zimbabwe and Malawi amid high inflation
Why it matters: Farmers across eastern and southern Africa stand to gain a low-cost, sustainable pest control tool if the fungal treatment is commercialized, reducing reliance on ineffective chemicals and potentially preventing massive crop and livestock losses tied to past outbreaks that disrupted food security and strained economies.
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