Argentina is being invaded by a locust plague of biblical proportions, devouring everything on its path.
The biblical swarm of more than 40 millions of locusts has crossed from neighbouring Paraguay and is currently sweeping through the northern region of Argentina.
The short-horned grasshoppers have affected farms in the commune of Lanteri located in the northern Argentine province of Santa Fe after crossing from neighbouring Paraguay.
Videos taken by local residents show the terrifying scene as the insects completely block out the driver’s view on the road.
Plaga de langostas llega a Argentina: comen como 350.000 personas
— 𝑱𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑨. #QuedateEnCasa (@jravanales) June 19, 2020
Los voraces insectos provienen de Paraguay y tienen en alerta a los agricultores de la provincia de Formosa.
Los productos amenazados por estos insectos son los cultivos de mandioca, maíz, caña de azúcar. pic.twitter.com/1KDB2VjGHo
Motorists had to drive carefully as thousands of locusts flew past at a low altitude, hitting their windscreens.
Another clip captures the locusts sweeping through the regions in northern Argentina.
⚠️#Alerta #Langosta 🦗 #SantaFe
— Senasa Argentina (@SenasaAR) June 18, 2020
Equipos #langosteros dieron apoyo a los productores del paraje El Algarrobal, del distrito de Lanteri, que realizaron acciones para disminuir la población de la manga de langostas. pic.twitter.com/hQwg9w5DLY
Lanteri community president Pipo Garcia told local media that the swarm is “astonishing” and that he has never seen anything like it.
From Paraguay
The swarms have passed through the Argentine provinces of Chaco and Formosa after crossing from Paraguay, according to reports.
The National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality (SENASA) said the swarm was passing through the province of Chaco on Tuesday.
SENASA and several witnesses posted videos of the swarm of locusts on social media showing them filling the air over fields and roads in the region.
According to local media, they belong to a species of locust in the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Schistocerca cancellata) which have an insatiable appetite for crops of wheat, corn and oats used for cattle, but are different from the desert locust currently devastating Africa and SW Asia.
Yo lo anticipe, la plaga de langostas llego a corrientes, argentina. Muy pronto en bs as. pic.twitter.com/H0Mg9VKRMe
— Matias, así nomas. (@matii_ariel00) June 19, 2020
SENASA said this swarm is capable of devouring the same amount of crops as 2,500 people per day.
Last month, the National Service of Vegetal Health of Paraguay informed SENASA about the presence of locusts on its border with Argentina.
Invasión de langostas en el Chaco, zona agua dulce en el Departamento de Alto Paraguay. 🇵🇾 #LaNacionPy
— Diario La Nación (@LaNacionPy) April 11, 2020
📸: Gentileza. pic.twitter.com/SinT2JUI6b
Meanwhile, Africa is facing a probable third wave of locust invasion in 6 months: