This protein was found to significantly decrease fall armyworm larva growth. An outbreak of fall armyworm further threatened sorghum and maize production by July 2017. The fall armyworm was identified in Africa in 2016. Fall armyworm caterpillars are directly preyed upon by many invertebrates and vertebrates. The fall armyworm may be presently undergoing a divergence into two separate species. Fifty-three different parasite species have been discovered in fall armyworm larvae, spanning ten different families. Because of this, the fall armyworm is a more prominent pest in southeastern states.