Locust Plague History

          Locusts are collection of certain species of short horned grasshoppers in the family  Acrididae that have a swarming phase.About Locust and Swarm

Photo by Sue Thomas on Unsplash

Ancient Times

          Locusts have formed Plague since prehistory. The ancient Egyptians craved them on their on their tombs in the period of 2470 to 2220 BC and these insects were mentioned in the book of Exodus in the Bible as it takes place in Egypt around 1446 BC. In 9th century BC, the Chinese authorities appointed anti-locust officers.  Livy records a devastating plagues in Cupua in 203 BC. The link of human disease outbreak to locust plagues was widely spread. Pestilence in the northwestern provinces of China 311 AD that killed 98% of the population was blamed on locusts.

Recent Times

         In last two millennia, locust plagues continuous to appear at regular interval of time and it outbreaks in the desert and it migrates to Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Other species form problem in North and South America, Australia and Asia. The Bombay Locust was the major pest in India and Southern east Asia in the period of 18th and 19th century. IN 1747 locust arrived outside Damascus eating eating the majority of crops and vegetation, they covered every thing the trees, crops. 

        In Rocky Mountain Locust it has covered throughout the west of the United States and parts of Canada in 19th century. Albert's swarm of 1875 has covered 198,000 square miles and it weight 27.5 million tones and 12.5 trillion insect. The last specimen was seen alive in Canada in 1902.