By Helen Briggs BBC News
6 hours ago
Scientists are calling for urgent
action to halt the spread of a pest that is destroying maize crops and
spreading rapidly across Africa.
The fall armyworm poses a major
threat to food security and agricultural trade, warns the Centre for
Agriculture and Biosciences International (Cabi).
It says farmers' livelihoods are
at risk as the non-native insect threatens to reach Asia and the Mediterranean.
The Food and Agriculture
Organization plans emergency talks on the issue.
The fall armyworm, so called
because it eats its way through most of the vegetation in its way as it marches
through crops, is native to North and South America but was identified for the
first time in Africa last year.
Cabi chief scientist Dr Matthew
Cock said: "This invasive species is now a serious pest spreading quickly
in tropical Africa and with the potential to spread to Asia.
"Urgent action will be
needed to prevent devastating losses to crops and farmers' livelihoods."
Scientists think the caterpillar
or its eggs may have reached the continent through imported produce.
Once established in an area, the
adult moths can fly large distances and spread rapidly.
Image copyright CABI Image
caption The caterpillar can march like an army across the landscape
Dr Jayne Crozier, of Cabi, said
the fall armyworm's presence had now been confirmed in west Africa and was
thought to be present in the south and east of the continent, many parts of
which rely on maize for their staple diet.
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