The desert locust (蝗虫) is the most dangerous migratory pest with a huge appetite unmatched in the insect world. In just one day, a swarm of locusts the size of Paris could consume the same amount of food as half the population of France. They annually reproduce, concentrate and then form swarms that can move up to 150 kilometers per day.
To control these swarms, some experts think drone (无人机) technology could provide survey and control teams with an inexpensive and efficient method of searching for these destructive insects.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — also known as drones — could be used to automatically collect high-resolution imagery of green, vegetated areas potentially affected by locusts.
Controlled by a hand-held tablet, the UAV would follow a pre-programmed flight path, covering a 100 kilometer survey radius to collect data. Then the survey teams use the data to identify areas that seem most likely to harbor locusts and travel directly to suspicious locations. Once the team reaches such an area, the UAV could be launched to fly overhead and identify other nearby areas affected by locusts that may require treatment. A separately controlled UAV could then be used to administer pesticides directly onto the locust concentrations. UAVs could also be used to check for locusts in areas that are insecure or cannot be accessed by ground teams.
Pest control operations would become safer, as human operators would no longer be exposed to potentially dangerous pesticides while getting rid of the insects. They would also become more effective, since drones would be able to spray pesticides precisely.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is currently working with university researchers and private sector partners in Europe to address challenges of drone technology concerning design, endurance, power, and detection of green vegetation and locusts. The FAO remains hopeful that within five years, UAVs will play an essential role in protecting food supplies and livelihoods from the desert locust, as part of the fight against global hunger and poverty.
