'Desert Locust' is the new fear to most of us, especially the farmers. We hear that Rajasthan,Gujarat, UP & MP sees them in large numbers.
Read this Thread to know about these monstrous feeders and prolific deadly breeders!
(Images-Internet)
Read this Thread to know about these monstrous feeders and prolific deadly breeders!
(Images-Internet)
A desert locust are a migratory type of grasshoppers. They can live about three months. The lifecycle has three stages - egg, hopper/ nymph, adult. Eggs laid by adults hatch in two weeks. The hoppers shed their skins, each time when they grow in size. VC Latitude Adventures
Hoppers take about 30-40 days to grow into an adult. Adults mature in about three weeks to nine weeks based on environmental conditions, mainly temperature. That's the crucial point to be noted and the major concern here - temperature. VC Saba Douglas - growing hoppers
An adult locust can eat everyday upto its own bodyweight i.e 2.5g. Adults are initially sexually immature, but eventually become mature and can copulate and lay eggs. They feed and breed. It is said in 3 breeding seasons, locusts population raises by 16,000 times. VC Arthopodono
The adults which join the swarm can fly long distance along the direction of the wind, as this saves their energy. Mostly they fly during the day. Copulation also occurs during this stage of the life. A single swarm of locusts can finish food for some 2,500 people in a day.
Watch this video for better understanding why these little creatures are a possible threat to us. Earlier only three hot spots were identified by FAO - Horn of Africa, Red Sea and South West Asia. Now after Pakisthan, Indian states have also reported #DesertLocust swarms.
FAO has listed out the most important facts about these little creatures. They have been supporting the African countries to handle these devasting invasions that results in millions of people facing malnutrition and starvation at Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia &Somalia.
Kenya is trying its best to fight it out. They have formed youth brigades to use specialised pesticides. The results are yet to be confirmed.
Why we should worry?
We are at kharif season of agriculture. Most of our farmers will soon start the process of sowing by June first week. These locusts can sense the moisture and green leaves. They soon migrate to that area. We donot know the loss from the earlier swarms.
We are at kharif season of agriculture. Most of our farmers will soon start the process of sowing by June first week. These locusts can sense the moisture and green leaves. They soon migrate to that area. We donot know the loss from the earlier swarms.
They are not new to India. Every year states of Rajasthan and Gujarat receive few swarms. But why are we worried now? This year five states have reported swarms.
How? The reason is excessive rains reported in the recent past in Gulf. Suitable climate favoured their population ⬆️
How? The reason is excessive rains reported in the recent past in Gulf. Suitable climate favoured their population ⬆️
It is said part of the swarm fled to East Africa causing d worst famine there. The other part took the direction of wind towards Pakistan and now India. All these are attributed to climate change causing more rainfall in gulf areas, change in wind direction & early monsoon onset.
FAO has recommends mapping areas based on temp, rainfall& availability of green fields, to predict the swarm attack. As these locusts are not active at night, special pesticides are recommended by FAO that would target the breeding cycle. Let's hope to fight it out together.
