Rains and the unwanted results - Issue #31

December 07, 2021

Hello ,

We are blessed with very good rains throughout the most of South Africa over the last few weeks. Rivers that have stood dry for years are in flood, the Addo elephant park received very good rains, and in the Central Karoo the rivers have been in full flood! (I'm adding a few links down below if you are interested in some of the videos that have been seen on social media!)

The rain is very needed and very good for our drought stricken country, but in a few weeks, there might be another monster, or monsters, that might stick their heads out and even cover the sky.

As from previous records globally, very good rains often leads to massive outbreaks of locust swarms. The question you might be asking however is: How do good rain trigger locust swarms?

Simply put, the rain sets off the life cycle for the locusts. Locust eggs are desiccation resistant, able to withstand drought of many years without hatching. All that the eggs require to hatch is a few drops of water. My one Professor had a egg casing on his desk out of interest. He would give them a single drop of water every Monday morning as he got to his office. During the rest of the day he would see the eggs swell up as they absorbed the water and then over the next week he could see the eggs dry out again. After three or 4 years (can't remember the exact time span that the Prof still reported to us in weeks), he made the mistake of giving the eggs 2 drops of water instead of one. He said for a moment he thought "Oops" but then said it's anyway to little water nothing will happen. The next morning as he arrived in his office, he had dozens of small locust nymphs running around on his desk.

To think that one drop of water more than usual could trigger the hatching of a locust egg case should explain why good rain often triggers locust swarms.

Once the eggs hatch there is no turning back. Unless weather conditions are unfavourable and kills the small nymphs, there is very little that can be done to stop the plague.

I hope and pray that in the coming months we won't see a locust swarm, but if history is to repeat itself it would be a very devastating and awe inspiring phenomenon to witness!

Links to some of the good rains:

Merweville Area, Central Karoo District Western Cape: https://www.facebook.com/stormreportsaOFFICIAL/videos/487245932954621/

Weekly Top Shot: Locust nymph predator!

The latest Video: Balbyter Explosion!

The Balbyters are multiplying and they are doing well, and it is time for upgrades all round!

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