Don't mistake normal caterpillar for 'Sena': DG Agriculture

The Director General of Agriculture, Dr M.W. M. Weerakoon has warned that the use of chemicals to kill the normal caterpillars mistaking them for the fall armyworm or the Sena Caterpillar is not advisable.

"Various types of caterpillars are seen in crops and farmers have been quick to identify them as fall armyworms and are using pesticides unnecessarily," he told news briefing held at the Agriculture Department. Mr. Weerakoon said the news that the fall armyworms had been discovered in banana cultivations has no truth and the caterpillars found there were not fall armyworms.

"In certain areas the plants were affected by the Brown Mites which have no connection to the fall armyworms," he said and added that constant observation is carried out with the assistance of the officials to prevent the spread of the fall armyworms from the maize cultivations to other crops.