New caterpillar plague hits Liberia, spreads to Ivory Coast*

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.

by Staff Writers
Monrovia (AFP) Feb 18, 2009

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.

"I received this report that they indeed found the same caterpillars.
They found them in the cacao and coffee farms," FAO representative
Winfred Hammond said.

Experts warn that the caterpillars could do devastating damage to Ivory
Coast's cocoa and coffee crops. Ivory Coast is the world's top cocoa
producer and many of its plantations are in the west of the country
bordering Liberia.

Toe said the areas first affected in Liberia by the caterpillars are
still suffering from the after effects.

"The problem that we face has implication beyond agriculture," Toe
warned. "Damage for example to food crops now could lead to food
insecurity in the future as well as to loss of revenue and income."

He added that the community was also facing health issues as water
sources were being polluted by the caterpillars' droppings and by dead
caterpillars.

The local population has been warned not to drink affected water.

Over a hundred Liberian villages have so far been affected by the plague
and authorities warn that hundreds of thousands of people could face
hunger because the caterpillars have devoured all the crops.