The Fall Armyworm (FAW), or Spodoptera frugiperda, represents a paradigm shift in tropical pest management. Since its catastrophic introduction to Sri Lanka in late 2018, it has evolved from a sporadic invader to a persistent, endemic threat. Unlike native pests, the FAW possesses a unique combination of high reproductive plasticity, a lack of diapause (no dormant period), and a "corn-strain" genetic dominance that makes it exceptionally efficient at colonizing maize monocult

Agriculture is undergoing a technological revolution and Machine Learning (ML) is at the forefront of this transformation. For centuries, farmers have battled pests through traditional methods, relying heavily on experience, observation and often blanket pesticide applications