KAMPALA – The Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Mr Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, together with the Commissioner for Crop protection, Mr. Stephen Byantwale, on Friday flagged off pesticides and spray pumps for control of giant looper caterpillars that invaded the Country through Kayunga and Luwero districts last week. This took place at MAAIF stores in Wandegeya-Kampala.
A giant looper caterpillar is the larval stage of the moth-Ascotis selenaria of the Geometric family of the moths. The colour and pattern of the caterpillars vary from green to yellow/green or brown resembling twigs. They have a characteristic bulbous swelling on the thorax and move with a looping motion.
These caterpillars are polyphagous and currently feeding on various crops and trees in Kayunga and Luwero Districts.
