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Scientists at the Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) have confirmed reports that a crop-destroying caterpillar, commonly known as armyworm, is currently spreading at alarming rates across mainland Africa. According to a research released on Monday by the United Kingdom-based CABI, the armyworm is expected to migrate to tropical Asia and the Mediterranean in a couple of years.

With a virulent and aggressive feeding pattern, CABI warns that the caterpillar poses a formidable threat to food security and agricultural trade, if urgent actions are not taken to prevent overwhelming losses in crop production and consequently, farmers’ livelihood.

Dr. Jayne Crozier of CABI told the BBC that the armyworm’s presence has been finally confirmed in West Africa and is believed to be devastating southern and eastern parts of the continent as well. Reuters also reports that, suspected outbreaks have erupted in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique.

Earlier reports revealed that the armyworm has been rapidly spreading in Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana, causing major damage to crops such as rice, maize, sugarcane, cabbage and soybeans.

The scientists believe the caterpillar and its eggs, which are native to tropical regions of the western hemisphere particularly in the United States and South America, may have arrived the African continent through importation of contaminated produce and on direct commercial flights. By its own strong flight ability, the pest as adult moths could easily spread further inland, destroying young maize plants – a crucial produce in large parts of Africa.

U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation is slated to convene an emergency meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe on February 14-16 to decide emergency responses to this looming pestilence.

Zambia has deployed army planes to spray affected farms with pesticides, while South Africa’s agriculture ministry commenced the registration of pesticides to combat the armyworm. Generally, farmers are adviced to maintain farm hygiene and use improved crop varieties resistant to the viral pest.

Chief Scientist at CABI, Matthew Cook, warned that the outbreak would mean mounting debts and losses for African farmers who must be assisted to figure out the best methods to control the pest.

Last year, an outbreak of a tomato disease, called the tuta absoluta or ‘tomato ebola,’ in Nigeria led to devastating tomato shortages and severe price hikes of up to 105 per cent.