locust swarms
(Photo : Pixabay / Sarangib )

Southeastern Mexican skies ended up darkening as locust swarms that spanned miles flooded through the capital of Mérida in the Yucatán state of Mexico.

Massive Locust Swarms in Mexico

On December 5, millions of insects soared over the skies of western and northern suburbs of the city. This left local residents spooked out.

The exact locus species was the Central American locust (CAL), which is a native of the area.

The local officials told reporters that the locust swarms were thought to finish passing through the area in roughly two days. The insects were expected to do so without posing any threat to local crops.

Following the concerns that sparked after the appearance of the insects, the SEDER (State Rural Development Secretariat) announced that they were monitoring the activity of the locusts and launching protocols for extermination. According to the authority, these locusts were a remnant of a polluted region in a jungle close by.

SEDER also noted that they will be waiting to see where the insects will stay during the night, with hopes that this area would be remote. They also wanted to perform control protocols in the early morning.

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Incident Likened to Biblical End Times

Some have been vocally calling the incident the end of the world. One local expressed that the ends of times is here, adding a call to repent. Another individual also quoted Exodus 10:1-20, while another person noted that the event was not observed for quite a long while, adding that it's a plague.

One Latin American newspaper that documented the incident cited Book of Revelations 9:3 in the Bible. On top of this, locust plagues have also been linked to the Book of Exodus. Several individuals think that these swarms signify a bad omen of a natural disaster that is impending.

Insect Waves

While southwestern America has experienced massive waves of killer bees, Mormon crickets, and other insects in the past years, there is no sign that the locust swarm in Mérida will arrive in the US.

However, last year, a research initiated by the Arizona State University found that locust swarm intensity could grow dramatically because of climate change. This could then raise prices of food and threaten crops.

While the swarms were observed to be thickest in the state capitol's northern and western areas, the insects were also found in the nearby and smaller towns of Villas Oriente, Chuburna, Colonia Gonzalo Guerrero, and Temozón Norte.

The state of Yucatán frequently experiences plagues of S. piceifron locust swarms. These insects are capable of consuming up to 30 tons of vegetation each day. This could impact up to 14.6 million land acres.

RELATED ARTICLE: Oregon Pushes to Eliminate Swarms of Mormon Crickets in the State to Prevent Further Crop Damage

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