Agrocalidad rules out presence of locust plague in the country

The locust plague that is currently moving through various provinces of Argentina and Paraguay has not been detected in Ecuador and will hardly reach the country due to weather conditions; however, one must remain cautious and vigilant.

Agrocalidad rules out presence of locust plague in the country

There are several genres. As polyphagous insects and some species, Schistocerca cancellata are able to multiply enormously and migrate over great distances.

The species can reach any type of continent and cause damage. They attack the upper part of wild or cultivated vegetables, preventing regrowth.

This is a recurring phenomenon in the region.

The South American locust was the most destructive agricultural pest in the late 1800s and early and mid-1900s in Argentina. In 2015, a notable increase was reported again.

The recently detected lobster sleeve in Argentina is approximately 10 kilometers long and 8 wide and travels between 100 and 150 kilometers per day.

Daniela Cerón, General Coordinator of Plant Health (surrogate) of Agrocalidad, said that this pest has not been reported in Ecuador and has not been detected by the National System of Phytosanitary Surveillance so far.

For them to continue advancing they need some factors, among them the temperature, the climate and the rains, even the distances. “Low temperatures affect them and they begin to die,” he said.

The conditions of Argentina and Paraguay are ideal for them. “To get to Ecuador it is necessary that the locusts begin to adapt to climates like ours,” he assured.

Another characteristic of these sleeves is that they go according to the wind. The official explained that in Argentina a kind of circle is formed that makes them head west and not north.

Meanwhile, the countries of the region remain observant and share information between nations to analyze the behavior of locusts . (I)