Hundreds of thousands of insects known as army worms have attacked several towns and villages in central Liberia, destroying an important quantity of crops, Liberia's government said Sunday.
A seven-strong team of experts had reported back from Belefania and Bong districts saying that the situation there was "alarming and worsening", Agriculture Minister Christopher Toe told journalists.
The team, which is led by an entemologist, reported that the worm-like caterpillars were consuming all vegetation in their path and polluting creeks and running water with their faeces.
Specialists from government farming, health and environmental protection agencies had been sent to the affected areas to assess the extent of the problem and spraying of insecticides had already started, said Toe.
"When the caterpillars near maturity, approximately one to 1.5 inches in length (2.5 to 3.8 centimetres), they can lay waste to an entire crop in a matter of days" said Toe.
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