Locust swarm from China ravages northern Vietnam bamboo forests, corn fields
A locust swarm from China has been destroying bamboo forests and corn fields in Dien Bien Province in northern Vietnam since last week.
The yellow-spined bamboo locust (Ceracris kiangsu) swarm, which has an estimated 100-400 individuals per square meter, devoured bamboo leaves in 20 ha of forests in Po Nhu Kho and Ta Mieu villages in Muong Nhe District, Nguyen Trong Kinh, head of the province plant protection department, said on Friday.
They then moved on to corn fields, also spanning 20 ha, he said.
The department has sent personnel to the area to monitor and destroy the swarm, he said.
The insects have been making an appearance since 2015, often flying in from Laos in waves, but this is the first time they are coming from China, he said.
Tat Dinh
