Locust Management: Locusts are insects that look like small horned crickets. They are called Locust in English. Locusts move in groups and form long distance swarms and cross countries and continents rapidly. Wherever their swarm goes, it destroys the fields there, causing heavy damage to crops. More than 10 thousand species of locusts are found all over the world. Only four species are found in India. These include desert locust, migratory locust, Bombay locust and tree locust. But among all these, desert locust is considered the most dangerous. In this article, we will tell you about some ways by which you can protect crops from desert locust.
Desert locusts are the most dangerous
The desert locust found in India is the most dangerous. When their swarm comes to the fields, green grasslands, it takes a more destructive form. According to a report, the lives of ten percent of the world’s population have been affected due to desert locusts. Protecting crops from desert locusts remains a big problem.
Let us tell you that adult locust swarms can fly about 150 kilometers in a day in the air. Along with this, they can eat fresh food equal to their weight every day. Even a small locust swarm can eat as much as about 35,000 people in a day. The behavior of desert locusts has become a matter of concern for India.
20 percent of the earth’s land area affected by desert locusts
Desert locusts are migratory insects that cause damage to agriculture and crops. They are widely spread from Mauritania in West Africa to the Middle East and India in South East Asia. About 60 countries suffer from extensive agricultural damage due to the desert locust outbreak. It affects 20 percent of the earth’s land area and about 10 percent of the world’s population. Let us tell you that desert locusts are usually few in number and difficult to find, but when environmental conditions are bad, their outbreak is seen. At that time they form huge swarms. Which cause heavy damage to crops.
In the loneliness phase, individual locusts avoid each other, but when they gather in dense groups, they are attracted to each other and move as a swarm. They behave as part of a group and start living in a swarm when they experience overcrowding.
Locusts are eaten as food in many countries
Locusts never harm humans nor do they bite them. But people must be cautious about locusts. Locusts only target crops, tall grass and plants. Let us tell you that in many countries like Vietnam, Brazil and Cambodia, they are eaten with great fondness.
Research on the development and invasions of locusts
In 1921, Russian entomologist Sir Uberov started researching locusts. Because agriculture was being damaged due to locust invasions. So far, FAO has been at the forefront and center in dealing with desert locusts for many years.
How do Rajasthani locusts thrive
The main reason for the Rajasthani locusts flourishing in large numbers is the change in weather due to global warming. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the speed of desert locusts is 16-19 kilometers per hour. Their speed also increases due to the wind. In this way, they can travel 200 km in a day. A female locust can lay eggs up to three times in its lifetime. At the same time, it lays 95 to 158 eggs at a time. Their lifespan is three to five months. Desert locusts, considered the most dangerous, lay eggs in the sand, but when they emerge from the eggs, they move towards moist places in search of food. Due to which the risk of desert locusts is higher in moist areas.
When did locusts attack India?
In 1993, locust swarms from Pakistan destroyed the crops of farmers in districts like Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar of Rajasthan. Let us tell you that the size of a male locust can be 60-75 mm and that of a female can be 70-90 mm. On April 11, 2020, a swarm of desert locusts attacked a large part of India. They entered several districts of Rajasthan via Pakistan’s Sindh province. Favourable rainy winds helped them move towards India. This attack of locusts affected about 90,000 hectares of land in 20 districts of Rajasthan.
Reasons for the increase of desert locusts
A new report has been released regarding desert locusts. In which it has been told that unseasonal rains are also a major reason behind the increase in the number and attack of locusts. During the last few years, unseasonal rains have been occurring in the entire Arabian Peninsula including India and Pakistan. Due to this, they spread rapidly due to increased humidity. According to agricultural experts, locusts increase 20 times in the first breeding period, 400 times in the second and 1,600 times in the third.Â
Organizations monitoring desert locusts
The Food and Agriculture Organization operates a global warning system using new technology. Locust Watch is FAO’s one-stop destination for all information related to desert locusts. The portal provides timely forecasts and early warnings to prevent and combat the spread of desert locusts. It also provides resources and archives starting from 1975.
Locust Warning Organization (LWO)
India has a Locust Control and Research (LC&R) scheme for the control of desert locusts. It is being implemented through an organization called Locust Warning Organization (LWO), established in 1939.
The LWO is responsible for monitoring and control of locust situation in the Scheduled Desert Area (SDA), mainly in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat and partly in the states of Punjab and Haryana. It keeps itself updated on the current locust situation at national and international levels through FAO’s monthly desert locust bulletins.
How to protect crops from desert locusts
For effective desert locust control, they can be eliminated in the hopper stage. Because in this stage locusts are most vulnerable.
Drones can also be used to spray pesticides on tall trees and inaccessible places for effective control of locusts to protect crops from desert locusts.
India has also proposed an initiative with Pakistan and Iran for effective locust control. The Indian Meteorological Department should provide data of wind patterns to keep a proper track of the movement of locust swarms.
According to experts, the best way to avoid locust attacks is control and monitoring. Similarly, locust eggs can be destroyed before they hatch.
Questions and answers related to desert locusts
Question 1- Which insects are locusts?
Answer- Locusts are insects that look like small horned crickets. They are called Locust in English. Locusts move in groups and form swarms over long distances and cross countries and continents rapidly. More than 10 thousand species of locusts are found all over the world. Only four species are found in India. These include desert locust, migratory locust, Bombay locust and tree locust. Desert locust is considered the most dangerous among all these.
Question 2- Why is desert locust considered the most dangerous?
Answer- Desert locust is a migratory insect that causes damage to agriculture and crops. They are widely spread from Mauritania in West Africa to the Middle East and India in South East Asia. About 60 countries are suffering from extensive agricultural damage due to the desert locust outbreak. It affects 20 percent of the earth’s land area and about 10 percent of the world’s population.
Question 3- What is the biggest reason for the increase in desert locusts?
Answer- A report has been released regarding desert locusts. In which it has been told that unseasonal rain is also a major reason behind the increase in the number and attack of locusts. During the last few years, there has been unseasonal rain in the entire Arabian Peninsula including India and Pakistan. Due to this, they spread rapidly due to increased humidity. According to agricultural experts, locusts increase 20 times in the first breeding period, 400 times in the second and 1,600 times in the third.
Question 4 – Which are the organizations monitoring desert locusts?
Answer- The Food and Agriculture Organization operates a global warning system to monitor desert locusts using new technology. India has a Locust Control and Research (LC&R) scheme for controlling desert locusts. It is being implemented through an organization called Locust Warning Organization (LWO) since its establishment in 1939.
Question 5 – What are the ways to deal with desert locusts?
Answer – To control desert locusts, they can be eliminated in the hopper stage. Because locusts are most vulnerable in this stage. Drones can also be used to spray pesticides on tall trees and inaccessible places for effective control of locusts. According to experts, the best way to avoid locust attacks is control and monitoring. Similarly, locust eggs can be destroyed before they hatch.
Contact us- If farmers want to share any valuable information or experiences related to farming, they can connect with us via phone or whatsApp at 9599273766 or you can write to us at [email protected]. Through Kisan of India, we will convey your message to the people, because we believe that if the farmers are advanced then the country is happy.
You can connect with Kisan of India on Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp and Subscribe to our YouTube channel.