India along with 60 other countries are suffering the worst locust attacks ever

India is suffering one of the worst locust attacks in its history. Desert, or yellow, locusts, have raided several districts in Rajasthan and Gujarat. These pests entering from Pakistan have damaged standing crops over 370,000 hectares by January 12, 2020. Locusts are short-horned grasshoppers; they eat voraciously. They can change their behaviour and habits and migrate over large distances. They live for 90 days and eat the equivalent to their bodyweight every day
They feed on green, leafy plants and always travel during the day time. An average adult locust swarm eats as much as about 10 elephants, 25 camels or 2,500 people. Apart from India, the pests have attacked 60 countries in two major continents, comprising 30 million sq km. Pakistan and Somalia have declared emergencies to control the pest. Favourable conditions can increase their reproduction 20 times. Climate change-induced unseasonal rain or frequent cyclones are considered main reasons for the infestations.