Locust nymphs which hatched in the forests of Mora last November have grown into adult insects and are now continuing to attack agricultural estates in the southwestern peninsula.
The lone Locust Unit is struggling to deal with the pests and residents say swarms are entering their yards and houses.
When Guardian Media visited the scene on Wednesday, thousands of locusts were seen flying in the air. The sounds of their wings could be heard if you listened carefully. The trunks of the trees were spattered with the insects.
Since Guardian Media reported on the activities of the insects on April 25, the swarms have extended out of Bowen Trace towards Chatham Beach Road, Cemetery Road, Kowlessar Trace, Ashford Trace and Carlyse Road.
The Locust Unit which tracks the swarms annually has been hard pressed to kill the pests because the tractor used for spraying remains down.
Robert Reyes who owns 50 acres of lands at Chatham said the infestation of insects has destroyed fields of short crops including patchoi, lettuce, sweet peppers.
He said the only crops saved were root crops like cassava, ginger and yam.
Another farmer Sheldon Khan said usually spraying of the St Patrick area is done using a wheel tractor.
"The spraying is done before the locusts start to fly but since the wheel tractor went down they have not been able to cover all the areas. That is why we are suffering like this now," Khan said.
He called on the Minister of Agriculture Clarence Rambharat to provide the necessary equipment to deal with the pests.
Councillor for Cedros Shankar Teelucksingh in an interview said it would cost $14,000 to fix the tractor. He said the tractor was supposed to be fixed weeks ago.
"Over the past few weeks, farmers have complained about the larger infestation of locusts on their farms and losses to their crops. There has been no redress from the Agriculture to Ministry to deal with locusts," Teelucksingh said.
He added, "There are three mist blowers being used and it is not making much impact on the volume of locusts. "
Teelucksingh said previously St Patrick West had two wheel tractors but one was removed some years.
"That tractor is now broken down because of a clutch and it will cost $14,000 to fix. We also need staffing. The contracts of casual workers are not being renewed and this has caused some strain. The Minister of Agriculture has to intervene," Teelucksingh added.
Contacted for comment Rambharat said he read the Guardian story on the issue and sent it to the Chief Technical Officer Dr Simone Titus. He referred questions to Titus or permanent secretary Lydia Jacobs. However, Jacobs said she will have to investigate and issue a later comment. Jacobs told Guardian Media she has conferred with the permanent secretary from Ministry of Finance and funds will be released by the end of this week so that by next week the tractor will be able to repaired to assist in the spraying.
Cycle of the locusts
Based on a research paper by Lilory D Mc Comie, the life cycle and feeding ecology of the Moruga grasshopper Coscineuta virens thunberg (Orthoptera: Acrididae) is syncronised with seasonal rainfall. All species of locust undergo three main life stages: egg, nymph and adult locust. They feed diurnally and sporadically and can feed between 1,600 to 1,800 hours, according to Mc Comie.
By January, the hatched hoppers begin to feed on the shrubs of the forest. At this stage, the nymph cannot fly.
Sources said the locusts which are now feeding in the southwestern peninsula are believed to have hatched last November at the Mora forests and in Forest Reserve, Santa Flora. When the showers begin in June and July, the locusts begin to migrate by flying. They remain in one swarm and can clean out mass sections of the forests. Because the locusts were not eradicated when they were nymphs, residents believe by August there will be mass devastation of their fields.