Why gigantic locust swarms are challenging governments and researchers

Why gigantic locust swarms are challenging governments and researchers

Why locusts, why now and how to stop them

Heavy rains, war and a lack of funding have been hampering efforts to control the biggest locust outbreak in more than a quarter of a century. Locust monitoring in Africa is severely underfunded, with many countries facing unpaid bills to the organization that provides a locust early-warning system and helps to control outbreaks. In Yemen, the ongoing war and the humanitarian crisis it has caused put the country in no position to deal with the pests. The United Nations has appealed for urgent funding as scientists scramble to model outbreaks and find safe countermeasures.

Nature | 4 min read