China Urges Local Authorities to Prepare for Possible Locust Invasion

China Urges Local Authorities to Prepare for Possible Locust Invasion
A desert locust is seen feeding on a plantation in a grazing land on the outskirt of Dusamareb in Galmudug region, Somalia, on Dec. 22, 2019. Feisal Omar/Reuters
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BEIJING—China could face a desert locust invasion, a government body warned on Mar. 2, urging local authorities to prepare for the possible arrival of the voracious insects from neighboring Pakistan and India.

The risk of swarms entering the country is low, although China will be hampered in tracking the locusts by a lack of monitoring techniques and little knowledge of migration patterns, the National Forestry and Grassland Administrations said on its website.