Up to 800 million locusts set to invade Saudi

Giant swarms of upto 800 million locusts are on their way to invade Saudi Arabia after reaching parts of Egypt, triggering official warnings to the people in the Gulf Kingdom not to eat the insects, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Sabq Arabic language daily, citing officials, said 10 swarms comprising 40-80 million locusts each, have been sighted on their way to Saudi Arabia and that some of the insects have already entered the northern parts of the Kingdom.

It said Saudi authorities are bracing to deal with the locust invasion after issuing a warning to citizens not to eat the insects as they would be sprayed with pesticides. It quoted officials as saying some of the insects have also reached occupied Palestine.

Locusts are a favourite dish in Saudi Arabia, where people boil the insects and dry them in the sun for a couple of days before salting them eating them like nuts.

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