Billion-dollar swarm of locusts expected to hit Africa

A billion-dollar swarm of locusts is expected to hit Africa in the next few weeks, according to the United Nations. The insects are breeding at an alarming rate due to perfect conditions created by climate change, and could cause widespread damage to crops and livelihoods.

The locusts have already been spotted in Niger, Chad, and Sudan, and are expected to move south into countries including Mali, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UN has warned that if the situation is not addressed quickly, it could result in a humanitarian catastrophe.

"This is a very serious situation," said World Food Programme spokeswoman Hervé Verhoosel. "We could be looking at a famine if this mass migration of locusts is not stopped."

The locusts are believed to have originated in the deserts of north Africa, where they have been gathering in huge numbers since last year. Unusually high levels of rainfall have created ideal breeding conditions, and the insects have now spread across an area spanning 2,000 miles.

The UN has already appealed for $76 million to deal with the crisis, but officials say more funding will likely be needed. Countries in the region are struggling to cope with the influx of pests, which are eating everything in sight and causing widespread damage to crops.

"They're just eating everything — leaves, branches," said Mahamadou Abdoulaye Tiyaou of Niger's food security agency. "There's nothing left."

This is not the first time that Africa has been hit by a major locust outbreak. In 2003-2004, a swarm of locusts estimated at 10 billion descended on East Africa, causing $2 billion worth of damage.

Locust invasion could cause famine in East Africa

A locust invasion could cause famine in East Africa, the UN has warned. The insects are breeding at an alarming rate and could swarm across the region, destroying crops and grazing land.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said the situation was "serious and requires urgent attention". Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti are all at risk from the locusts.

Animal husbandry expert Vincent Martin said: "If nothing is done, this pest could cause major food insecurity in the region as it did in 2003-2004 when a similar outbreak occurred."

In 2003-2004, a locust invasion caused widespread famine in East Africa. More than 10 million people were affected and more than 200,000 died.

The FAO is calling for an urgent response to the threat from the locusts. It has appealed for $76 million to fund anti-locust programmes in the region.

'Bandit' locusts spreading across Europe

A new insect species, nicknamed the 'bandit' locust, is spreading rapidly across Europe, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia.

The bandit locust is a type of grasshopper that typically inhabits warm, dry areas such as North Africa and the Middle East. However, in recent years the species has begun to spread northwards, and is now found in countries including France, Italy and Germany.

The bandit locust can cause serious damage to crops, and experts are warning that the species could soon become a major problem for farmers in Europe. In addition to damaging crops, the bandit locust also poses a threat to biodiversity, as it can outcompete other grasshopper species for food.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia are currently working on a study to determine the extent of the bandit locust's spread across Europe, and how best to deal with the potential threat posed by this new insect species.

Swarms of desert locusts spotted in Israel

The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture announced on Monday that it was tracking a swarm of desert locusts that was spotted in the country's south.

The locusts were seen near the city of Beersheba and are expected to move northwards, towards Tel Aviv, over the next few days.

Officials say they are using all available means to try and stop the locusts from reaching populated areas.

This is not the first time that Israel has faced a threat from desert locusts. In 2013, a major infestation caused widespread damage to crops.

Plague of biblical proportions: Locusts swarm Kenya

A plague of biblical proportions is wreaking havoc in Kenya, with locusts swarming the country in unprecedented numbers.

The locusts are destroying crops and causing widespread damage to the economy, with the government estimating that the cost of dealing with the infestation could reach $120 million.

"This is the worst infestation ever recorded in the country," said Mohammed Adullahi, head of plant protection at Kenya's agriculture ministry. "They are everywhere."

The locusts have been particularly destructive in the northeastern region of Garissa, where they have destroyed 80% of maize crops and 50% of sorghum crops.

"This will have a very significant impact on food security," said Abdullahi. "We are already seeing prices for these commodities going up."

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that the plague could spread to other parts of Africa if not contained. It has appealed for $76 million to fund its response plan.

"If this plague is not brought under control quickly, it could cause serious food shortages and consequent social unrest in vulnerable areas," said FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva.

The Kenyan government has deployed teams of workers to spray pesticides and destroy the locust eggs, but it is likely to be a long and difficult task to bring the infestation under control.