In Poland, locusts are primarily associated with one of the biblical Egyptian plagues. Few people realise that this species is no longer "exotic" in Europe due to a warming climate. In July, northern Italy experienced record heat and a lack of rain, leading to an invasion of locusts severely damaging fruit and alfalfa crops. The swarms attacked fields and orchards, forcing farmers to speed up harvesting as the only way to partially save the crops.

Experts agree that if the climate crisis is not addressed, swarms of migrating locusts will also appear in Poland. Dr Paweł Bereś of the Institute of Plant Protection wrote on his blog: "Migratory locusts are already naturally appearing in Poland, although they do not form swarms." He emphasised: "Even if Poland does not offer ideal conditions, the warming climate could lead to increased numbers in southern Europe, from where they might occasionally invade the south of our country."

Prof. Marek Mrówczyński, an expert on agricultural crops and plant protection, echoed this view in an interview with 300gospodarka.pl. He warned, "In the coming years, we can expect local raids of locusts from southern European regions, which could lead to significant economic losses in Poland." The experts underlined that migratory locusts thrive in areas undergoing steppification, a condition already observed in some central Polish provinces affected by hydrological drought.

Locusts prefer open areas with sandy soil, favouring habitats with intense sunlight, high heat, and limited water availability. In years of mass emergence, the insects cluster in large groups, with individuals touching each other. Dr Bereś explained: "This contact excites them. As they jump and rub against each other, the insects secrete hormones. Such excited insects pose a problem because their 'hormonal' excitement increases the desire to reproduce and feed."

Migrating locusts are driven to migrate to avoid mutual cannibalism. When a swarm exhausts the plant life in an area, hunger compels the insects to attack each other. This prompts individuals to flee, causing the entire swarm to move to new areas. The direction of flight is usually random and can be influenced by factors such as the wind. Swarms can number in the millions and can devastate crops at an alarming rate.

Sources: 300gospodarka.pl, dionp.pl