Locusts came: a large swarm in Nitzana

Large flocks of millions of locusts came this afternoon across the southern border of Israel – from Sinai, and raided Nitzana in the western Negev, and is moving toward the Sde Boker and Midreshet Ben Gurion.

Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture boosted air observation aircraft to track the movement of pests, intending to spray them later.

Shmuel Rifman, head of the Ramat Hanegev Regional Council, requires the Department of Agriculture to raise the locust eradication spraying aircraft. "I have no doubt that you can prevent the locusts destroyed farmland, but need to work quickly and decisively to prevent damage."

In the north and center locust swarms were observed yesterday, but their number is relatively small. Note that the swarms are not dangerous to humans - but only crops.
Desert locust (scientific name: (Schistocerca gregaria), is the most prominent agricultural pest since man began growing cultured plants. He is mentioned in ancient writings, the Bible and the Koran. The locus is still a serious enemy of farmers in many countries and a factor between food and hunger. It is depended on, among other things, weather, and hordes of locusts, their size and speed.

Damage in some years reached a quarter billion dollars, due to several reasons, including: the locusts feeding on a wide range of plant species, all except food on the equivalent weight, the amount gradually increased to adult small larvae and reaches to 2 g, 2-3 weeks after the development of the adult. Young locusts cause serious damage, number of adults can range from 40 to 80 million square kilometers on each band. Bands are also reaching a size of 1000 square kilometers.

One ton of locusts (This is a small part of the pack) eat food as 2,500 people - a man, locusts feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds and bark. In addition, indirect damage due to trees breaking due to weight when sitting down for the night and corrupting plants by wastes; wide circulation, close to 30 million square kilometers in 60 countries.

Ministry of Agriculture urges the public to be alert and, if encountered swarms containing thousands of details call the locusts line "Ministry of Agriculture, telephone: 03-9681500, between the hours of 7:30 am to 19:00 pm.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!