Al-Marsad Newspaper: The National Center for the Prevention of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases “Waqaa” revealed, on its official Twitter page, the fact that rumors of the spread of desert locusts spread at Al-Shariaa Stadium in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
The center stated, “What is being circulated on social media about the presence of desert locusts in Al-Sharaa’a stadium in Makkah Al-Mukarramah is incorrect, and it is a type of hopper called “Al-Jakhakh” or the hopper locust, which is an insect from the genus of grasshoppers, belonging to the locust family and its scientific name is “oedipoda caerulescanes” ” .
He continued, “This insect is similar to the desert locust insect, relatively in terms of shape, but it differs from it in terms of behavior. He also confirms that this insect does not harm agricultural crops.” Pointing out that they are usually found in abundance on the roads and on lamps in the evening.
The center added: “This insect cannot form large groups that move in the form of swarms and do not move to great distances. Rather, it is found in breeding sites, and is not harmful and does not affect plants or humans.”
He concluded that work is currently underway through field teams to monitor, explore and combat it.
