Thursday, March 28, 2024

Anxiety in East Africa as First Generation Locusts Hatch in Kenya

Share

A new generation of hopper bands that hatched last month in Northern Kenya has matured and ready to fly, signalling a new headache to the government as it battles locusts menace.

This is the first ever generation bred in Kenya to fly since the invasion was reported.

The voracious pests have been laying eggs along their migratory paths which started from Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo and Samburu counties.

Officials say the hopper bands could form swarms close to 100 times larger than the wave that descended in the region from neighbouring countries of Somalia and Ethiopia.

New Generation

According to statistics from Samburu County Special Programmes Department, the new generation bred in Kenya, is already flying in Lekiji, Melepo Moo, Sesia and Mabati in Samburu East.

“They have formed new generation swarms and are ravaging any green matter in the area,” said Mr Daniel Lesaigor, Samburu County Special Programmes chief officer.

He warned that the newly hatched generation of desert locusts is about 100 times their parents’ numbers and could rise to an eye-watering 500 per cent multiplication by April this year if uncontrolled.

Irregular heavy rains have favoured heavy breeding, triggering the mass hatching reported in Samburu. Read more…

Read more

Related News