South Africa: Farmers Urged to Be On the Look-Out for Armyworms

press release

The outbreak of African Armyworm, a mystery worm which covers large areas of grass, pasture or very small maize and sorghum in dense swarms of worms, has recently been reported in the areas of Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Districts. According to the crop scientists in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, cattle, sheep and goats that have fed on grass that armyworms have been eating, can be poisoned.

Symptoms in affected animals usually appear about 10 days after the appearance of the worms. The symptoms include amongst others, the swallowing of affected animals which becomes paralysed, appearance of large strings of watery saliva drooling from the mouth, and animals exhibit severe thirst. Slight symptoms of bloat, grinding of teeth and nervous twitching may also occur.

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