World Aug 12, 2026 · 1 min read

Halting the march of the armyworm: fungus discovery offers hope to African farmers

South African scientist’s breakthrough research shows soil fungus could be used in fight against devastating crop pestHearing about fields full of dead caterpillars enveloped in a mysterious white substance intrigued the South African scientist Letodi Luki Mathulwe. Something was killing off the Afr...

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The Guardian
by Kaamil Ahmed
Halting the march of the armyworm: fungus discovery offers hope to African farmers

South African scientist’s breakthrough research shows soil fungus could be used in fight against devastating crop pest

Hearing about fields full of dead caterpillars enveloped in a mysterious white substance intrigued the South African scientist Letodi Luki Mathulwe. Something was killing off the African armyworm – one of the most devastating pests for farmers in east and southern Africa.

The white substance was a naturally occurring fungus and it was wiping out the caterpillar, which gained its name from its march-like advance through fields of crops.

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This article was originally published by The Guardian and written by Kaamil Ahmed.

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