"We have received reports of caterpillar infestation from residents."Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - After breaking out in several eastern parts of Bali, a caterpillar population explosion is now also happening on the outskirts of Denpasar, Bali`s provincial capital.
"We have received reports of caterpillar infestation from residents," head of Agriculture and Food Crops Office I Gede Ambara Putra said here Wednesday.
To anticipate a caterpillar invasion , local authorities have begun spraying insecticide at two locations in the northern part of Denpasar, Ambara Putra said.
The insecticide was sprayed on empty lands along Antasura street and Kenyiri street where some of the caterpillars were found crawling on shrubs and productive plants such as mango trees, he said.
However, no caterpillars were as yet found in residential areas in the region.
According to local experts, the caterpillars were similar to those attacking some regions in East Java but their size was smaller and they did not attack productive plants, Ambara Putra said.
In addition to spraying insecticide, local authorities would take some samples of the caterpillars to identify their species in laboratory examinations.
Since the last few days, some regions in Bali were attacked by caterpillars. The first caterpillar infestation was reported to occur in Buleleng District, before it reached Gianyar District and Denpasar.
(Uu.KR-AES/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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