The worm, which is commonly knowns as American Armyworm infested many areas in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, Region’s Communication head, Hamza Mohammed said.
According to him, the worm has affected maize fields in 12 zones of the region that covers nearly 204 thousand hectares.
He said that the region is so far controlled 12 thousand hectares of which over six thousand by chemical spray.
The region has so far used 17 thousand liter chemical mainly in Arsi, Bale and West Arsi, where the worm became highly active, he added.
If the spread of the worm do not get contained, there is a fear that the yield may fall by 30 percent.
Last year, the worm has caused a 5 percent decline in yield.