Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Friday, February 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Print

Desert locusts threatening crops in United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates has seen its largest swarms of desert locusts in 25 years, which could threaten crops, national media reported...

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates has seen its largest swarms of desert locusts in 25 years, which could threaten crops, national media reported Thursday.

Desert locusts migrate from Africa across the UAE and Saudi Arabia to Iran about every five years, and some groups fly as far as India and Pakistan.

The country's last locust plague was seen a quarter of a century ago, according to Al-Bayan newspaper. However, the paper quoted authorities in Al Fujayrah as saying such a large number of the insects had not been witnessed in the country in 50 years.

The insects have destroyed more than 10 percent of vegetation in the Al Buraimi Oasis in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, mostly forests and date palms, Al-Ittihad newspaper reported.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

Print      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

UPDATE - 10:01 AM
Rebels tighten hold on Libya oil port

UPDATE - 09:29 AM
Reality leads US to temper its tough talk on Libya

UPDATE - 09:38 AM
2 Ark. injection wells may be closed amid quakes

Armed guards save Dutch couple from Somali pirates

Navy to release lewd video investigation findings

Advertising

Video

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising