Millions of locusts darkened the sky in southwestern Russia on Sunday, turning a peaceful day into an apocalyptic scene. The swarm swept across a field in the Kizlyar district of Dagestan, nearly blocking out the sky as they flew overhead.
Residents took cover in their cars, with some fearing the insects might head toward nearby towns in the North Caucasus region. One local filming the swarm said: 'Where are they heading? What on earth is this? Thank goodness they're not heading towards the town! They are going to eat us alive!'
Pest control measures underway
While the locusts are not directly harmful to humans, they can devastate crops, making them one of the world's most harmful agricultural pests. Dagestan's ministry of agriculture and food said it has taken active pest control measures, noting that several large swarms had already been dealt with.
The ministry said: 'The situation is complicated by the fact that migratory locust swarms travel from nature conservation areas and reserves, where chemical treatment is strictly prohibited by law. However, as soon as the pests move into areas where treatment is permitted, all available equipment is deployed.'
Regional threat and response
Locusts and grasshoppers pose a serious threat to food security and livelihoods in the Caucasus and Central Asia, as they can destroy crops in their path. The insects can travel up to 93 miles per day.
In response, drones are being used to combat the pests. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan recently cooperated on using unmanned aerial systems for locust management, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. The UN said up to 20 million people and 25 million hectares of cultivated land are at risk from locusts in the region. Three species plague the Caucasus, Russian Federation and Central Asia: Italian (Calliptamus italicus), Moroccan (Dociostaurus maroccanus) and Asian Migratory (Locusta migratoria) locusts.
