The caterpillars of the moth Achaea Catocaloides have driven tens of thousands of people from their homes after laying waste to their crops and making fresh water supplies undrinkable.

Experts warned that these insects may turn out to be even more destructive than army worms, which are among the worst agricultural pests because they can destroy entire fields of crops in a matter of days.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said $1.2 million is needed to combat the spreading infestations.

“Now that we have an accurate identification, we can choose a pesticide which is specific to this species of caterpillar,” FAO entomologist Winfred Hammond told the BBC.

Experts warn that the ravenous crawlers have been sighted in neighboring Guinea, and could spread farther into Ivory Coast and Ghana.

This particular caterpillar is not normally seen on such a large scale. It has been known to attack cocoa crops, and lays its eggs on the leaves of the Dahoma tree.

The immature caterpillars drop to the ground, then march off in search of food.

Photo: Liberian Ministry of Agriculture