Locust Swarm Devastates Crops and Farms in Southwestern Spain

These locusts are severely affecting crops and livestock farms in Badajoz, more precisely in the La Serena region on the border with Ciudad Real. The inhabitants of Cabeza del Buey, Zarza Capilla and Peñasordo are suffering the ravages of the invasion of these insects that destroy everything in their path, reducing to nothing the large harvests and the livelihoods of grazing animals.

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According to the local site Hoy, this invasion could be due to climatic variations, in particular the successive heatwaves which are likely to favor their appearance around wetlands such as water reservoirs. These weather conditions have made the phytosanitary treatments carried out by the Directorate General of Agriculture and Livestock ineffective, with organic farming having been promoted in the region.

The farmers are overwhelmed by this situation which has ruined all their efforts. The invasion of Moroccan locusts has spread in recent years in the region which could find itself with some 400,000 hectares of crops, according to estimates by the Andalusia Council.