Template:Featured resource/Analysis of historical outbreaks of the brown locust

date_featured=2026-02-17

This paper presents an updated 45-year historical record (1960–2005) of brown locust (Locustana pardalina) outbreaks in South Africa’s semi-arid Nama Karoo, extending earlier documentation that ended in the 1960s. It shows that infestations occurred almost annually and required chemical control in about 90% of years. Twelve major plague events were documented, and spatial data from locust control records were analyzed to map outbreak frequency and intensity. Despite extensive control efforts, locust eruptions persist, largely driven by rainfall variability, underscoring the need for better forecasting and more sustainable management approaches. Click here to see more identification resources