Drought In US West Brings “Plague” Of Grasshoppers

The Associated Press reports:

A punishing drought in the U.S. West is drying up waterways, sparking wildfires and leaving farmers scrambling for water. Next up: a plague of voracious grasshoppers.

Federal agriculture officials are launching what could become their largest grasshopper-killing campaign since the 1980s amid an outbreak of the drought-loving insects that cattle ranchers fear will strip bare public and private rangelands.

The program’s scale has alarmed environmentalists who say widespread spraying will kill numerous insects, including spiders and other grasshopper predators as well as struggling species such as monarch butterflies.

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A punishing drought in the U.S. West is drying up waterways, sparking wildfires and leaving farmers scrambling for water.

Next up: a plague of voracious grasshoppers. https://t.co/8lcGHrEQBG

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) June 25, 2021