Locusts Swarm Sweeping Crops In Northern India
Amid the continued devastation from COVID-19 and cyclone Amphan, vicious swarms of desert locusts are sweeping over Northwest India eating up everything on the way. Millions of locusts were spotted flitting across Jaipur in Rajasthan on May 21. The Swarm entered Rajasthan from neighbouring Pakistan. At least 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh are reported to being hit by various swarm of locusts. Millions of insects have descended on Ujjain, Malwa, Mandsaur and even Panna tiger reserve. This army of pests has also breached Uttar Pradesh’s borders with farmers reporting locusts hitting fields in Jhansi and Agra. In Jhansi, the fire department has been instructed to keep its vehicles ready with chemicals to prevent the locusts from destroying the crops and vegetation. In Uttar Pradesh, locusts are feared to affect 17 districts.
What are locusts?
The swarms that have come into India are specifically desert locusts. They are voracious grasshopper species – Schistocerca Gregaria, a short-horned grasshopper- commonly known as Desert Locusts. When their numbers rise they become gregarious in habit and stay together in dense groups. These groups are called swarms. The insects naturally inhabit remote regions and are commonly found in the deserts of Africa.
What is a locust outbreak?
Locust can rapidly increase in number and within a month or two, start to concentrate, which unless checked, can lead to the formation of small groups or bands of wingless hoppers and small groups or swarms winged adults. This is called an outbreak. Favourable environmental conditions like a series of strong rainy seasons, rich plant growth and warmer temperatures allow locust population to boom. Then, they dramatically transform, change color and often grow larger. The swarms are eager to find new food, feast and breed. Swarms then travel great distances up to 150km daily, while eating up every bit of vegetation on the way.
Where did this swarm come from?
This swarm originated in the Horn of Africa, where excess rains triggered a breeding boom. Cyclonic storms that hit Oman and Yemen back in 2018 are being called the genesis of the current locust outbreak. Desert locusts bred in temporary lakes due to these storms in the Arabian Peninsula. The swarms attacking crops in East Africa reached peak populations in November 2019 and then turned towards Iran and Pakistan.
Why do farmers fear an outbreak?
If not controlled at the right time, these insects’ swarms can threaten the food security of countries. Entire field can be ravaged overnight as swarms feed through the day and night. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says a one square kilometer swarm, containing about 40 million locusts and can eat as much food as 35,000 people in a day. Over 25 million people will face acute food insecurity in the second half of 2020 in the Eastern Africa region.
Swarms have now moved to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and border areas of Uttar Pradesh. Locusts do not attack people or animals. There is no evidence that suggests that locusts carry diseases that could harm humans. Drones are used for aerial spraying of Malathion 96, an organophosphate insecticide and a potentially toxic chemical for non-cropped areas. Nature-based bio pesticides are also available as a less harmful alternative for controlling outbreaks.