Sirsi: With their arecanut crop infested with insects has spread panic among the farmers.

The insects have invaded an acre of arecanut farm at Puttanamane village, in Sirsi, for the past two days. They have entirely covered the green foliage of the crop. A foul smell waft across as one nears the plantation. Though pesticides are being used as per the advice of Horticulture Department officials, we are unable to control the pests, woman farmer Rupa Hegde said.

Vishwanath Hegde Puttanamane said the insects which have invaded the nearby woods, may have attacked the crops. "Few of these insects were visible during summer, but have increased in number alarmingly after the onset of the rainy season. The officials should guide us on how to get rid of them," he requested.