Locust plague in Bojador keeps islands on edge

The recent humidity has boosted the unusual reproductive power of this outbreak.

A massive locust plague has surprised the population of Bojador in Western Sahara, where enormous swarms of these voracious insects are raising alarms among farmers and local authorities.

“The unusual appearance of these locust clouds is attributed to the recent rains that have turned desert areas into fertile zones, providing ideal conditions for their reproduction and the explosive growth of populations that normally remain low in arid conditions,” explains Gloria Martín of Meteored.

Mobile Swarms of Millions of Locusts

Desert locusts are known for their ability to form huge migratory swarms, which can become one of the most destructive biological threats to agriculture. A single swarm may contain millions of insects and travel at high speed, devouring green foliage, vegetables, pastures, and grains within hours.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that periods of rain followed by rapid vegetation growth trigger massive reproduction of these insects, shifting them from solitary to gregarious behavior and facilitating the formation of mobile swarms.

Humidity That Favors Reproduction

In Bojador, the rains—rare in this semi‑desert region of Western Sahara—have allowed female locusts to lay large numbers of eggs in moist soil, generating new generations that now group together and migrate in search of food. Although natural, this phenomenon poses a direct threat to the agricultural livelihoods of communities that depend on crops and pastures for survival.

Regional authorities have therefore intensified monitoring of the situation, using field observations and meteorological data to forecast migration routes and potential impacts on sensitive farming areas.

Plagues That Cross Borders by Air

Desert locust outbreaks are not isolated to Africa. In recent years, northern and western parts of the continent have recorded similar spikes, especially after periods of unusually intense precipitation. These conditions increase the risk that swarms move across national borders and affect multiple countries. The current outbreak in Western Sahara could allow some insects to reach the Canary Islands in the coming days.

Eastern winds and the calima could accelerate the approach of the plague, but the arrival of the trade wind (alisio) from Thursday onward is expected to hinder the insects’ progress toward our latitudes.