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Observations from satellites will help predict where and why there are swarms of locusts.

NASA satellites that monitor the Land, can help to fight the locust invasion in Africa. Observations from satellites will help predict where and why there are swarms of locusts, according to “Popular mechanics”.

Locust invasion began last year. In December, hundreds of millions of insects has invaded Kenya and destroyed crops on 70 hectares of arable land. Since then, the locusts had spread to 10 other countries.

According to UN experts, “unusual climate conditions” allowed the locusts to breed faster, probably, the onset of the rainy season will only worsen the situation. In order to stop the invasion of insects, the UN appealed to NASA.

Companions Agency will monitor the status of vegetation and soil moisture. This will allow you to determine how environmental changes affect the population of locusts that will allow you to stop the invasion before it started. “Approach, which helps to prevent the invasion, is to catch even the young locusts, and destroy its nest,” said the head of Department food security and agriculture NASA Whether Ellenburg.

By combining information from satellites with data about where, when and why there are clusters of locusts, scientists have developed a strategy to reduce insect population. From adult locusts are hard to get rid of, because they can cover a distance of 50-150 miles per day. To cope with the invasion, scientists need to get rid of the eggs and young of locusts, wings which are not developed yet.