First worms now grasshoppers
Several weeks after Middelburg was hit by a massive African Armyworm strike the town is now suffering a grasshopper infestation.
After large parts of Middelburg was crawling with hundreds of green grasshoppers, the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality issued a statement saying that it is aware of the infestation and are addressing it.
In its statement, STLM said that on Sunday, some parts of Aerorand, Rondebosch, Kanonkop and Middelburg CBD were affected by the infestation.
“The Municipality has since went on site to ensure that the team sprays on the ground using a chemical insecticide to the affected areas, in order to control the spread.
We are on high alert to tackle any area within the Municipal precinct to prevent the spread of the locusts.
To report locust infestation in your area, contact the Municipal Call Center on 013 243 1806 or 013 249 7344/48/49 or 087 808 7430.”
While their statement identifies the grasshopper as a locust, well-known toxicologist, Dr Gerhard Verdoorn identified it as the long-horned grasshopper.
Read more on Dr Verdoorn’s interview in this week’s Middelburg Observer.
