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| Liberia worms swarm 'emergency' | Liberia worms swarm 'emergency' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Liberia's president has declared a state of emergency in response to a plague of crop-destroying armyworms. | |
| Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said all possible resources would be used to fight the insects, which have spread to next-door Guinea and are nearing Sierra Leone. | Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said all possible resources would be used to fight the insects, which have spread to next-door Guinea and are nearing Sierra Leone. |
| Some 400,000 residents in 80 villages had been affected, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said. | Some 400,000 residents in 80 villages had been affected, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said. |
| The "worms" - which are actually caterpillars - are among the world's most destructive agricultural pests. | The "worms" - which are actually caterpillars - are among the world's most destructive agricultural pests. |
| Guinea has started spraying, and Sierra Leone has announced it will mobilise chemicals and personnel to its border. | Guinea has started spraying, and Sierra Leone has announced it will mobilise chemicals and personnel to its border. |
| Worst in decades | Worst in decades |
| Liberia has already appealed for international help to carry out aerial spraying against tens of millions of the invading insects. | Liberia has already appealed for international help to carry out aerial spraying against tens of millions of the invading insects. |
| It is the West African country's worst infestation of armyworm in three decades. | |
| Water and food are being supplied to the most vulnerable and displaced Ellen Johnson-SirleafLiberian president Q&A: Armyworms ravage Liberia | |
| Creeks and rivers - which some villages rely on for drinking water - have been polluted by the massive amount of faeces from the swarm. | Creeks and rivers - which some villages rely on for drinking water - have been polluted by the massive amount of faeces from the swarm. |
| Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf said there are indications the insects had reached several villages in neighbouring Guinea. | Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf said there are indications the insects had reached several villages in neighbouring Guinea. |
| Speaking during her annual message to lawmakers, she said: "I hereby declare a state of national emergency with particular emphasis on the existing and potentially affected counties. | Speaking during her annual message to lawmakers, she said: "I hereby declare a state of national emergency with particular emphasis on the existing and potentially affected counties. |
| "The technical team has identified and classified the species and has commenced spraying in the affected areas. Water and food are being supplied to the most vulnerable and displaced." | "The technical team has identified and classified the species and has commenced spraying in the affected areas. Water and food are being supplied to the most vulnerable and displaced." |
| An agriculture ministry-led command post, manned by fewer than 100 pest control workers, has been set up to contain the infestation. | An agriculture ministry-led command post, manned by fewer than 100 pest control workers, has been set up to contain the infestation. |
| FAO experts are in Liberia helping efforts to control the swarm. | FAO experts are in Liberia helping efforts to control the swarm. |
| The agency's Winfred Hammond told the BBC: "It's quite an alarming situation for us, in a country where food-security is a big challenge. The areas affected have all been consumed by the armyworms." | |
| The invasion began in Bong County before spreading into neighbouring Lofa and Gbarpolu counties and threatening villages over the border in Guinea. | The invasion began in Bong County before spreading into neighbouring Lofa and Gbarpolu counties and threatening villages over the border in Guinea. |
| With each female laying between 500 and 1,000 eggs, the caterpillars (of the genus Spodoptera) can devour an entire crop in a matter of days once they reach maturity. They grow up to 5cm (2in) in length. | With each female laying between 500 and 1,000 eggs, the caterpillars (of the genus Spodoptera) can devour an entire crop in a matter of days once they reach maturity. They grow up to 5cm (2in) in length. |