‘No sign of locusts in Kingdom’

AMMAN — The Agriculture Ministry has found no desert locusts in the Kingdom, according to a recent ministry statement seen by The Jordan Times.

Site surveys carried out on Monday and Tuesday in areas that reported locusts, including Mudawarah, Aqaba and the border points, have showed the presence of grasshoppers and other insects, but no locusts.

The presence of the grasshoppers across the country during this time of the year is normal. Although grasshoppers are similar to locusts in shape, their behaviour is different from desert locusts, according to the ministry, which added that grasshoppers do not usually form large groups and migrate in swarms.

The ministry said it valued the efforts of all sectors, including the Air Force, Gendarmerie and others, who managed to reach the sites in record time as well as provide pesticides.

The ministry’s main operation room has been on alert for a few days and will continue to work to ensure the control of potential threats such as locusts, the statement said.

According to data received from Saudi Arabia and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the possibility of a locust swarm is low, considering the wind direction, the statement said, adding that as a precautionary measure they would continue to monitor the situation in case of a change in wind direction.

Grasshoppers have far less impact on crops than locusts; however, they do feed on crops and the edges of leaves, thus causing damage.