Achaea catocaloides rena has been identified as the insect destroying coffee, cocoa, banana and plantain farms, and contaminating water sources, across Liberia and Guinea in Africa.
According to CABI, "More than 20,000 people have so far had to evacuate their homes."
A. catocaloides rena is a member of the Noctuidae or "Owlet" moth family in the order Lepidoptera.
See also:
- Crop-eating caterpillars swarm over Liberia (CABI)
- Lepidoptera types of the Royal Museum for Central Africa
- Crop Protection Compendium
- Entomology Research Guide (UW-Madison Libraries)
[Image of A. janata caterpillar (not A. catocaloides) by Djovani. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14126791@N03/1678406276]
[Copyrighted image of A. catocaloides rena moth used by permission of the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium. http://www.metafro.be/lepidoptera/butterflies/RMCA-2171/taxon]
Applying pesticide is not very wise decision:
ReplyDeleteBeside all that about environmental and toxic effect on trees,
Pesticide will kill the weak and unhealthy ones, while the strong and smart ones will easily avoid pesticide exposure. Pesticide will encourage the propagation of a strong and healthy insect generation.
M.Reda
Consltant
CandElectrochim
In the northern hemisphere it is much easier to control insect without pesticide. Before first snow on the ground. Spry the trees with dilute solutions sugar and sulfate. After the leaves( e.g. Colorado spruce ) is covered with snow. It will decompose to form highly toxic sulfide ions. That will kill the disease.
ReplyDeleteM. Reda
Consultant
CanadElectrochim
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