Grasshopper flying in Princes Town on Friday. Video courtesy Terry Vishnu
By Chantalé Fletcher
RESIDENTS of Princes Town have a group of unwelcomed visitors, the Moruga Grasshoppers (Coscineuta virens).
“Terrible,” was how Lothians Road, Princes Town resident Terry Vishnu described the influx of the grasshoppers which caused damaged to his flowers.
“I almost don’t have any more of my Desert Rose, Blue Bell, White Bells, Buttercups and a few ornamental non-flowering plants which were going due to the locusts. The situation is just terrible.”
On Wednesday, reports indicated that residents of Manahambre Road and St Croix in Princes Town described seeing swarms of locusts as dark clouds in their area.
They landed on fruit trees, crops and plants devouring all in sight, residents said.
One resident said, “It looked like a sign of incoming rain or storm.”
When AZPNEWS.com spoke to Princes Town MP Barry Padarath on Friday he said he was in contact with representatives at the Princess Town Regional Cooperation.
Padarath said he spoke to Councillor Derrick Mathura for the electoral districts affected by the grasshoppers. He said the Ministry of Agriculture was informed of the situation and promised to address it.
Padarath said, “The Ministry of Agriculture as of yesterday, has advised that they will be coming in sometime over this weekend to assess the situation. However, they have indicated that spraying would be done if they determine that the locusts are staying within that area for a prolonged period as opposed to migrating from area to area.”
MP Padarath said, “If they began spraying immediately, it will affect other flora and fauna within the area that may have a disastrous effect.”
