The United Nations says a plague of tens of millions of caterpillars in Liberia amounts to a national emergency and is likely to escalate into a regional crisis unless it is contained.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation says more than 40 villages in northern Liberia are now affected by what it described as the West African country's worst plague in 30 years.
The caterpillars, known as army worms, have been moving through the northen Liberian countryside destroying crops and vegetation.
People living in the area say the caterpillars, typically 2cm to 3cm long, are also infesting homes and buildings in the search for food.
Water supplies are being affected by the huge volume of faeces being produced by the larvae.
Fears that the plague of army worms is growing appear confirmed, by sightings in neighbouring Guinea.
The UN has set up a taskforce of regional experts to tackle the crisis.
