PUNE: Fall Armyworm, the dreaded pest considered a threat to global food security, has been found in Maharashtra, the Bengaluru-based National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources said. 

Entomologists have detected the presence of the pest on sugarcane crops even as scientists at India’s premium institutes hope it doesn’t infest rice, which could be highly dangerous. First detected in Karnataka in May, the presence of Fall Armyworm has been confirmed in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. 

“We have detected it during the vegetative stage of crops. However, it has not caused much damage at the harvest period,” said a scientist who did not wish to be identified.