Locusts under special observation in central Sardinia. Monitoring operations have resumed a few weeks ago to try to prevent the locust invasion, which in recent years has manifested itself as a plague that has brought the countryside to its knees, from the Ottana plain to the Goceano river.
The situation is not currently alarming. However, Laore, the agency managing the situation, reports that "data collected by the ARPAS stations, processed using the forecasting model and integrated with field observations, indicate that favorable conditions for hatching are approaching." This is later than in previous years, due to "agrometeorological conditions" that have slowed down "the biological cycle."
Technicians from Laore and Forestas are deployed in the area. In the middle Tirso Valley, "the presence of Dociostaurus maroccanus nymphs, in the first and second stages of development," meaning small Moroccan locusts still developing, has been reported in the areas of Bolotana, Olzai, Orani, Austis, and Noragugume. The third stage is also present locally in the municipalities of Olzai and Austis. However, these are isolated individuals, whose density is still below the intervention threshold."
The situation is similar between Goceano and Logudoro , "in the municipalities of Mores, Ozieri, and Pattada. In these areas, too, the number of locusts is below the intervention threshold."
With the arrival of the warm weather, "monitoring of the area continues," they say from Laore, " prevention remains essential to promptly intercept any new episodes."
Enrico Fresu
