Locusts swarm Egypt
As if we hadn't already seen enough Biblical events this year, a plague of over 30 million locusts swarmed over Egypt's cities and farms just three weeks before Passover begins. But put your apocalyptic fears to rest. This happens every year as part of the locusts' natural migration pattern, though this year's swarm is especially large. That doesn't mean Egyptians aren't freaked the heck out by millions of nasty bugs buzzing through the air at all hours of day and night, possibly descending upon the agriculture fields where they're known to destroy entire crops, just like in the actual Passover story.
The crops are so far safe, Egyptian officials assured the public. As the plague made its way from the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia at the end of last week and this weekend, though, Egyptian Agricultural Minister Salah Abdel Moamen explained the situation to the country in a calmly worded statement. "The current inspection teams at areas targeted by locusts did not witness swarms damaging a single inch of crop," said Moamen. He added that the locusts are "sexually immature and do not depend on plants for energy since they mainly rely on fat stores.
LOCUST SWARM ISRAEL from EGYPT - 1,000,000 Expected
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Mar.7,2013 LOCUST SWARM ISRAEL FROM EGYPT
1Chr.7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
LOCUST SWARM ISRAEL FROM EGYPT
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/03/04/4505447/israel-on-alert-as-locusts-cross.html
http://www.timesofisrael.com/wind-driven-locusts-reach-tel-aviv/
ISRAEL
March 11, 2013
- Israel request permission from Egypt to assist with removing the locust by using crop dusters
March 9,2013
- Reports of arrival in major cities of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Rishon Lezion, Petah Tikva, Natanya
- Authorities claim its the last remnants of the swarm
- Claims that they will be scattered by the wind
- March 6,2013
- 1 Million expected to cross from Egypt
- Began battling a medium sized swarm
- 2,000 acres of desert covered overnight
- They came from Sinai Peninsula
- Used aerial mapping to identify their location
- Farmers instructed to seal green houses
- Residents told to closed doors, windows and stay in-doors
- Pesticides sprayed from the air and land before early morning
- Farmers hotline set up to warn of any sightings
- One farmer near the Egypt border said 30% of his land was already damaged
- Israel on High Alert
- Emergency Hotline
- Ask for vigilance in reporting sightings
- Potato Farmers report serious loss
- Small numbers spotted in other parts of the country
- Arab farmers in Gaza strip reported damage
- Hamas instructed residents to keep houses closed
- Experts say a shift in the wind will basically protect Israel
- Prominent Rabbi urge the people to pray
- Authorities claim the invasion to be under control
Swarm Of 80 Million Yellow Locusts Hit SAUDI ARABIA 2013
Swarms of desert locusts are expected to invade Saudi Arabia at the end of March and the beginning of April, posing a major threat to farmers and agriculture.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization confirmed that the desert locusts originated in Sudan and then moved to the southern part of Egypt including Cairo. According to reports, it has been eight years since there has been such a massive invasion of locusts in Egypt.
The reports indicated that the locusts will arrive in Saudi Arabia on various air currents.
There are currently 10 swarms in Egypt, each estimated at between 40 to 80 million locusts. Each female locust breeds every 12 to 15 days and lays about 150 eggs that usually hatch after two weeks.
Adnan Al-Khan, director of the Saudi Center for Locust Control and Research, Ministry of Agriculture, said: "These desert locusts are still immature and are forming into swarms. These swarms are expected to reach the north coast of Saudi Arabia and start hatching there," he said.
The ministry said exploratory teams have been formed to monitor the movement of the swarms. He said two swarms arrived in the Kingdom at the end of February in Tabuk, Rabigh and Umluj, and reproduced into 23 million locusts.
According to the ministry's report, locusts have been spotted in 99 locations in Rabigh and 72 locations in Badr. The ministry said that several exploratory teams have been dispatched to the western, northern, and eastern areas this spring. "The most threatened regions are Riyadh, Qassim, Tabuk, Madinah and Hail," said Al-Khan.
The locusts are expected in Ma'an, Tafileh, Aqaba and the southern Jordan Valley region. They are being tackled by the Jordan Armed Forces, Desert patrol and the Public Security Department.
Hussain Al-Qahtani, spokesman of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), said desert locust swarms breed every year. "The only problem this year is that the wind movement changed, which took the locusts into Egypt and now Saudi Arabia," he said.
He said the PME will keep the Agriculture Ministry updated with wind conditions. "We contacted the municipality yesterday and told them that the movement of the wind has changed and will now be coming from the north and east borders," he said.
Al-Qahtani warned people about eating locusts. "This might be dangerous especially when these locusts are already sprayed with insecticide," he said.
Majida Abu Ras, deputy executive director of the Saudi Environment Society, said her organization and the Jeddah municipality have already started procedures to control the spread of the locusts. "Ground control operations are divided into two stages.
The first stage has started already with the municipality and the society spraying all plants, so the locusts won't be able to destroy them," she said. "As soon as the desert locusts arrive the municipality will spray them."
SAUDI ARABIA. Groups of immature and mature adults persist on the Red Sea coast between Masturah and Yenbo and, to a lesser extent, near Lith. Groups of mature adults have moved further north towards Khaybar and Duba where egg-laying is reported. Ground and aerial control operations treated nearly 7,000 ha so far in March, and more than 40,000 ha during the campaign. There is a risk that small groups and perhaps a few small swarms will appear in the vast spring breeding areas of the interior. This may be supplemented by locusts arriving from the western side of the Red Sea
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