Israel on alert after locusts hit Egypt

Israel has been put on locust alert as upwards of 30 million of the insects descended on neighboring Egypt ahead of the Passover holiday. Winds and climatic conditions in the region mean the swarm could hit Israel. Israel's Ministry of Agriculture has set up an emergency hotline and asked Israelis to be vigilant and report any locust sightings. As well as Israel, Lebanon and Jordan have also been put on alert. A statement from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations reads: "The locusts originated from breeding that has been in progress since November in southeast Egypt between Berenice and the Sudanese border." A desert locust swarm can measure 1,200 square kilometers in size and pack between 40 and 80 million locusts into less than one square kilometer. The size disparity between adult males and females, males are 60-75 mm long, and females can grow up to 70-90 mm long. Each locust can eat its body weight in plant matter, or about two grams, every day. One tonne of locusts eat the same amount of food as about ten elephants, 25 camels or 2,500 people in one day.