Desert Locust Swarms Wreak Havoc Across Ethiopia, Termite Swarms Reported in Other Regions

Desert locust swarms have wreaked havoc across Ethiopia, while termite swarms have been reported in other regions of the East Asian country, according to local authorities over the weekend. The Ethiopian locust swarm has damaged farmers' livelihoods and decreased crop yields in the affected regions. Furthermore, the country's termite infestations have spread to more than 300,000 hectares of land.

In recent years, locusts have descended into Ethiopia and threatened the nation's agricultural sector, aggravating existing food security in some regions marred by conflict and poverty. While these winged insects have also swarmed other parts of the world, including countries in Asia, the Middle East, and the Horn of Africa, they are all triggered by uncommon weather patterns like heavy rain and other factors.

Ethiopia Desert Locust Swarms

Desert locust swarms have been detected in five Ethiopian regions and one city administration, authorities confirmed on Sunday, October 15. These swarms are new occurrences, separated from the billions of locusts that overwhelmed Ethiopia and other African countries such as Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, and Somalia back in January 2020.

During a recent press conference, Selamawit Kassa, the state minister for the Ethiopian government communication service, stated the locust swarms have been observed in the regions of Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray in northern Ethiopia. Kassa adds the swarm was also detected in the city administration of Dire Dawa, located in the eastern part of the nation.

Ethiopia Termite Swarms

Aside from the locust infestations nationwide, Ethiopia is also dealing with widespread termite swarms, which were detected in 317,000 hectares of land across 15 zones in Afar, Oromia, and Tigray, the Ethiopian official adds. The magnitude of the damage is still unclear at this time. However, related termite swarms in the past have damaged homes and other wooden structures.

In response to the destructive swarms, traditional and modern anti-pest control measures are reportedly being implemented in the affected regions of Ethiopia, including aerial and vehicular spraying.

During a press release in January 2021, the United Nations warned East African countries to prepare for desert locust threat amid the surge of unprecedented desert locust infestations in the Horn of Africa in 2020. Although anti-pest initiatives have protected some crops and livelihoods in the region, funds are still needed not only in Ethiopia but also for Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan, according to the UN.

Do Locusts Attack Humans?

Unlike notorious insects like ticks and mosquitoes, locusts are not known for biting humans since these grasshoppers eat plants, as evident in their track record of destroying field crops, including wheat, sugar cane, and hay.

Although locusts do not actively seek and hunt humans, health experts still do not rule out the possibility of experiencing pain after interaction with a locust. This can happen if a person gets stabbed with the insect's strong legs or sharp spurs, as found in some locust species.