Explained: Where the locusts are, and where they head next

Context:

• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to declare the locust outbreak in the state a “national disaster”.

What happened to the swarms?

• After the fresh swarms arrived in April, much before their usual sighting time of May, the absence of standing crops led to the swarms migrating in search of green fodder.
• Once the monsoon started, sightings became rarer with swarms flying back to Rajasthan.

What took them back to Rajasthan?

• The reason behind this can be found in locusts’ egg-laying habits. The female drills a hole around 10-15 cm into the ground and lays eggs in pods. And sandy soil is most conducive for this.
• Swarms that had returned to Rajasthan earlier have completed their lifecycle and young hoppers have emerged from eggs there.

How serious is the situation?

• LWO scientists say localised breeding should not be a concern. For the first and second growth stages or instars, the hoppers cannot fly.
• They crawl out of their pods in search of food and can be easily controlled through spraying of chemicals or mechanical means.

Reference:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/where-the-locusts-are-where-they-head-next-6537875/