Fauna Journal Entry

Locust Threat Grows in Africa (March 3, 2008)

Swarms of locusts are on the move again in Africa. The swarms are immature insects or hoppers that will take flight in a few weeks. Large numbers are gathering east of the Rift Valley in Ethiopia and southern Somalia and in parts of Saudi Arabia.

Locusts devour huge amounts of vegetation. This can trigger severe food shortages, especially in areas where food is already scarce. One of the worst locust plagues in recent memory was in 2004 when millions of people across the northern third of Africa faced a serious food crisis.

Locust eggs hatch in about two weeks and become hoppers. After a month or so, they mature into adults that fly at speeds of 12 mph (20 kmh). A locust swarm can advance up to 80 miles (130 km) a day. Each fully-grown locust eats its weight in food each day, or about two grams.

Swarms can include up to 200 million insects per square mile. In a single day, a small swarm eats an amount of food that would feed 2,500 people.