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The Impact of Locusts on Industry and Agriculture

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John Sharon
The Impact of Locusts on Industry and Agriculture

A cluster of certain species of short-horned grasshoppers belong to the family of Acrididae having a swarming phase is known as Locusts. Locusts are insects and usually, they are solitary, but under certain circumstances, they become more abundant and change their behaviour, habitat, and habits, which becomes unsightly.

As per recent news, farmers of some of the Asian countries especially India and Pakistan are suffering one of the worst plagues of locusts they have had in around the last 70 years. Due to it, a huge loss is estimated, and it can even cause long-term food shortages.

The government of Pakistan already declared this plague a national emergency after the locusts destroyed winters crops of billions of dollars. And other countries are fighting against them. The origin of the first swarm is the United Arab Emirates, and it comes from the UAE in Mid-2019. In the following weeks, a new infestation was also expected to come from Iran.

How do these swarms form?

The destruction from this plagues of locusts is devastating, but how do they begin and form is a  question that you may want an answer for.

It is a well-known fact that when desert locusts meet they release a chemical, something called serotonin, which attracts them to one another. That’s how the swarming takes place. The first group which is known as outbreaks then joins together into larger groups and the complete event is called “upsurge”. The same happened and can be seen in Pakistan.

The last big infection was in 2010 and then around 70 years ago, in between 1964 to 1997, a total of 13 locust plagues were reported and then in between 1997 to 2018 only 5 locust plagues were reported but they were not as destructive as this one. 

Why they are so destructive?

The present swarms have 40-80 million locusts in the pack and spread over three square kilometres. Now, estimate how much they need to survive. Some experts and researchers estimated that such a fleet with such a large number of locusts can destroy or eat crops equivalent to the feeding need of around 35,000 people per day.

Now just wanted to mention here that this fleet is super active from the last 3-4 months, so you can assume easily that how devastating these swarms are. Along with farmers, many small and big business owners are going through a tough time, and the problem is still there and hurting more.

As per a report by FAO, between 2003 and 2005 due to a major locust invasion across 20 countries harvest losses of over $2.5 billion or €2.2 billion in northern Africa have been reported.

Possible Reasons

Such an insane number of locusts this year can be a result of one of the following. But the thing is that it will affect a very large number of people and, maybe a shortage of food is not that far away than we are expecting.

Increase in Agriculture

Most of the countries which are suffering from the impact of locusts are agricultural countries. The mixture of Wet and warm weather in the region attracted this fleet of locusts and then heavy rain provided the proper climate for vegetation to grow and with this level of greenery how can locusts ignore such tasty treats. A larger amount of vegetation can provide enough food to these swarms and that's what they want.

Climate Change

Climate change can be a possible reason, as we know that climate change is the major reason behind many of the unusual things happening around the world. It is warming oceans everywhere, which also results in more vegetation. Thus, in this case, a pattern of warming in the Indian Ocean may be a trigger.

Many research already stated that  In the Arabian Sea, new research suggests global warming is already making autumn cyclones more intense. The Condition is expected to be worsened in the upcoming years. 

Due to climate change, especially changes in temperature in certain regions, various species are forced to change their habitat. So Climate change can be a possible reason.

How are locust invasions dealt with?

Plagues of locusts or locust attacks have to be dealt with by spraying pest control and plant/ crop protection chemicals. As per the FAO’s report, adult locusts are forming groups and in the next few weeks, these will also cause harm to some other Asian countries.

Governments of both countries are spraying pest control and plant/ crop protection chemicals which will solve the issue a bit but this type of attack takes place in rounds so they also have to be ready for the next group.

What can you do to prevent flying insects in your area?

You can take some prevention measurements such as Covering the food items, Keep doors and windows closed, use well-covered dustbins, don’t put light source near entry points, keep your area clean, and in case of invasion don’t hesitate to call nearby Pest Control Company.

If you have a garden or an area with vegetation make sure to hire a pest control company to spray plant protection chemicals. It will provide a protective layer that can keep the pests and such insects away.

Don’t wait till it’s too late

Prevention is better than truth, it is an old-saying and universal truth.  Pest Control Companies provide Pest Prevention treatment that can keep pests and insects away from your area for a longer time duration. 

Thus it is the best solution to keep your plants, health of family members, pets, and home structure safe. In this case, don’t wait until the final hour to arrange a pest inspection. Call Pest Control Company and stop minor or initial problems blowing out and becoming a serious issue and expense further down the track. 

If you are looking for a Pest Control Company that can provide a quality inspection and prevention treatment then call Pest Control Corp now. They are best in the business and have been providing quality pest control services in and around Sydney, Australia at very affordable costs. So what are you waiting for call Pest Control Corp Now!!

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