MONROVIA (AFP) – Liberia has been hit by an invasion of so far unidentified caterpillars while another species, which has attacked crops in several areas, has now crossed over into neighbouring Ivory Coast.
"On Friday ... we got information that there was an invasion of caterpillars in the Margibi County area. We know that is not the same species that was found in Bong, Gbarpolu, Nimba and part of Lofa," Agriculture minister Christopher Toe told a press conference late Tuesday.
"Our task force, our crop protection people, are now on the ground addressing this particular issue," Toe said
It will take some time to identify the new species. According to experts, the new pests are white and black while the caterpillars which attacked the Bong, Gbarpolu, Nimba and Lofa regions were black and yellow.
The first wave of crop destroying caterpillars was identified earlier this month as Achaea Catocaloides, a very destructive pest that attacks a wide range of crops including coffee and cocoa, key cash earners.
A representative from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation FAPO told the press conference that he had received reports that the Achaea Catocaloides caterpillars had crossed into Ivory Coast.
