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Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a noctuid moth from the Americas with a broad host range that threatens a range of important crops. It consists of two morphologically indistinguishable strains (‘corn’ and ‘rice’) that have different host plant preferences. It was detected for the first time in Australia in 2020 following its rapid dispersal through Africa and Asia. Species identification of S. frugiperda in 48 specimens from seven locations in the Northern Territory was confirmed by DNA barcoding and morphological assessment. The majority of specimens possessed the mitochondrial haplotype associated with the ‘rice-strain’, whereas two specimens had a haplotype identified as the ‘corn-strain’. The two mitochondrial haplotypes observed in our study are identical to the most common haplotypes previously observed in Africa. Analysis of a nuclear gene identified all specimens as ‘corn-strain’. The agreement of …