Western India battles worst locust swarm in 25 years

Heat and rain helped create conditions for the swarms to thrive.

Western India is dealing with large locust swarms, due to heavy rain and above-seasonal warmth.

India normally sees locusts in May and June, but this year's are the worst in 25 years, with the first swarms showing up in April, according to the Indian Express.

While locusts are not known to attack humans or animals, they are damaging to crops. A large swarm, which can contain upwards of 80 million insects per square kilometre, can eat the same amount of food as about 35,000 people, and travel 150 km, in a day.

Drones, tractors, and cars have been sent out to track the swarms, armed with pesticides.

So far the locusts have destroyed nearly 50,000 hectares of land.

WHAT IS A LOCUST SWARM?

Locust swarms are comprised of a species of short-horned grasshoppers that are usually solitary and harmless, but if their population becomes too large and they are overcrowded, their behaviour changes.

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Swarming behaviour is typically a reaction to overcrowding, which can occur if unusual weather allows for an increase in food sources.

In these conditions, their serotonin levels rise, causing the grasshoppers to change colour, eat at a rapid pace, gain muscle mass, and breed with ease.

Thumbnail image courtesy: Pixabay.