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Locust invasion causes panic in South Korea’s Jeonnam Haenam region

September 2, 2014
(Yonhap)

Millions of grasshoppers invaded the farmlands of South Korea’s Jeonnam Haenam region last week. (Yonhap)

The appearance of hundreds of thousands of grasshoppers on the farmlands of South Korea’s Jeonnam Haenam region last week caused panic about possible damage to rice crops.

According to Haenam officials, 95 percent of the locusts are now gone after two days of exterminations.

The locusts damaged about two to three hectares of rice and millet, Yonhap reported. Sixty hectares have been treated with chemicals, they said.

The invaders, identified as migratory locusts, measure about 4.5 centimeters and are primarily active from July to November.

Locust eggs, which are laid in the mud, are typically washed away with rainfall but hatched this year due to a long period of summer drought, experts said.

(Yonhap)

The invaders, identified as migratory locusts, measure about 4.5 centimeters and are primarily active from July to November. (Yonhap)