By Allen P. Lablah, lallenpaye@yahoo.com
SANNIQUELLIE, Liberia- Caterpillar worms have surfaced in the northeastern Nimba County, many days after reports of a similar invasion in Bong County’s Zota District.
Thes rampaging insects spread have surfaced in two administrative districts in Nimba County– Yarpea-Mah (Gbeinfela Town) and Gbehlay-Geh Districts (Zortapa Town).
The surfacing of the caterpillar worms in the two districts has now sparked fears amongst residents, mainly farmers in Nimba County.
Residents of the both districts Mr. Edward Lonkia and Oliver P. Geh told Nimba News Public Trust Correspondent that the army of caterpillars emerged on Wednesday July 15 in Gbeinfela, Yarpea Mah followed by Zortapa, Gbehlay-Geh District on Thursday July 16, 2020.
Mr. Lonkia and Geh said the army of caterpillars has been destroying leaves of trees in the communities.
The caterpillar worms are now seen in Gbeinfeila making nets like spider web, with large number of them flying, while huge number of them are seen spread across fields of crops on the ground.
Mr. Lonkia, a resident of Gbeinfela indicated that the caterpillars have blocked towns of the entrances leading to Gbeinfela Town, thereby obstructing free movement pedestrians due to fear, with some describing the situation as strange.
The residents of those communities are calling on the Ministry of Agriculture to urgently dispatch a surveillance team to ascertain the situation in those communities in Nimba County.