Deadly Caterpillar Menace: From Crops to Humans, Spreading Fear in Rural Areas

• A deadly caterpillar, initially devastating crops, is now targeting humans and animals, causing widespread fear.
• The pest rapidly devours crop leaves and damages seeds, severely impacting castor and Zaid millet crops.
• Caterpillars are emerging from fields, contaminating animal fodder, leading to animal illness, and causing skin irritation in humans.
• Assistant Agriculture Officer Premchand Choola advises early inspection and control to prevent significant financial losses for farmers.
• Agriculture department suggests measures like destroying egg clusters, removing infected leaves, using light traps, and neem-based pesticides.