Moths turn Essequibo villages into 'ghost towns' at nights

Guyana Chronicle top story, Saturday 05 April 2008
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html
Moths turn Essequibo villages into 'ghost towns' at nights

THOUSANDS of Kabli moths have invaded several villages in northern Essequibo
Coast causing residents to suffer severe itching.
When the Guyana Chronicle visited the villages on Thursday, several
residents of Bounty Hall said the situation is very serious because no
medication seems to stop the itching.
During the nights the villages are like a ghost town with no light as such
residents are calling for urgent help.
According to one resident, Carl Roberts, the very strange moths are
attracted by lights during the night and the dust from the moths which when
in contact with the skin causes terrible itching which results in tiny
bumps.
Mr. Roberts said children are also suffering and are crying when the moths
touch them.
Some of the villages currently under attack are West Bury, Bounty Hall,
Better Success, Andrews, Better Hope and Somerset and Berks.
Reports said the dangerous moths were last night seen as far as Devonshire
Castle, a village some four miles away from West Bury.
The breeding ground for the Kabli moth is the thick bushes on the foreshore
of the Atlantic Ocean between Bounty Hall and Cozier.
According to reports, persons are very afraid to go in the bushes to catch
crabs because of the moth.
Residents are calling on the Ministry of Agriculture to visit the area and
eradicate the dangerous Kabli moths and on the Ministry of Health to
urgently visit and provide medication to combat the itching.