Originally published on cgiar.org by:International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Feb 4, 2009

Cotonou, Benin - The identity of a mysterious plague of caterpillars and moths that are devastating crops and contaminating water supply in northern Liberia has been established through joint efforts by the FAO, IITA and CABI.

The mystery insect has been identified as Achaea catocaloides by Georg Goergen, IITA entomologist and taxonomist. He explains, “The moth plague in Liberia is not African armyworms, or Spodoptera exempta, as earlier reported in the media, but belongs to the species A. catocaloides. Although Spodoptera and Achaea moths are related, their feeding and breeding habits are quite different. For example, caterpillars of armyworms generally don't attack trees as larvae of A. catocaloides do.” His finding was based from vital information provided by the FAO and CABI from the outbreak sites.

On Tuesday, 3 February, Liberian Minister of Agriculture Chris Toe confirmed Goergen’s finding in a press conference in Monrovia, announcing that “the caterpillars infesting villages, destroying crops and threatening food security of an estimated 350,000 people are of the A. catocaloides species”. The name is now commonly used in Liberia to refer to the insect.

Achaea catocaloides is a member of Lepidoptera group known as fruit-sucking moths. The adults pierce the ripening fruit and suck the juice. Rot-causing organisms then enter through these feeding punctures and cause early fruit drop.

“Without proper identification, the FAO and the Liberian government would have engaged in a huge effort fighting the wrong insect,” emphasizes Manuele Tamò, IITA entomologist.

Eric Boa, Head of the Global Plant Clinic at CABI, adds, "Correct taxonomic identification of this insect is crucial for managing this worrying problem. Now efforts can be focused in the right direction."

According to Goergen, the larvae, or caterpillars, of A. catocaloides are primarily forest insects that feed on trees. However, populations can develop in large numbers and attack agricultural crops, especially in the absence or inefficiency of natural enemies brought about by climatic disturbances, such as the sudden interruption in rains, thereby leading to outbreaks of the moth.

 

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For more information, please contact:

 

Dr Georg Goergen, g.goergen@cgiar.org

Entomologist

 

Dr Manuele Tamò, m.tamo@cgiar.org

Entomologist

 

IITA - Benin

BP 08 0932

Cotonou, Republic of Benin

 

 

Jeffrey Oliver, o.jeffrey@cgiar.org

Corporate Communications Officer (International)

 

Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org

Corporate Communications Officer (West Africa)

 

Communication Office

IITA - Headquarters

Ibadan, Nigeria

 

 

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