‘They’re not locusts’

A high-level expert team comprising of plant protection experts, entomologists and agricultural scientists visiting Teknaf upazila have identified the locust-like insect reported in Teknaf as spotted grasshopper.

The 10-member team came up with the findings after visiting the infested spot yesterday.

The insect swarm was first spotted in a deserted farm at Sadar union of Teknaf upazila on April 18, raising fears of a locust attack.

Nasir Uddin, coordinator of the team and additional director (acting) of Department of Agriculture Extension (Chattogram region), told The Daily Star that they identified the insect as spotted grasshopper, following thorough investigation.

"It is not locust. There should not be any fear among countrymen about the insect, as it can't fly and spread like locust. It is not as destructive as the locust. All it eats is the leaf, leaving the venation of wild plants. It was not seen to attack other common vegetative species", Nasir told this newspaper.

The scientific name of the grasshopper is Aularches Miliaris, belonging to family Pyrgomodtphidae, he described.

The team also observed the insect did not spread from the farm and any increase in number. It can be easily killed by using pesticides, they said.

Nasir also urged people to immediately contact the concerned agriculture office if anyone of any part of the country comes across such insects.

On April 18, people of Lombori village of Teknaf Sadar union discovered the insects eating the up leaves of trees at an abandoned poultry farm, prompting them to contact  the local agriculture office, which later collected samples and sent those to the agricultural research centre in Chattogram.