Man plagued by locusts fights them off (video)

Question: What do you do if a plague of locusts attacks you?

Answer: Flail around and fight them with your bare hands, if this video is anything to go by.

This poor man in the Stavropol region of Russia took on a single-handed battle to save his crop when millions of the insects descended on him.

He is just one of thousands of people in southern Russia affected by millions of locusts which have been causing 'biblical' destruction this month.

See also:'Tornado' of locusts descends on Portugal

The locusts have devoured thousands of hectares of corn and other crops, causing officials to declare a state of emergency in the regions of Orenburg, Astrakhan and Chechnya, according to reports on CNN.

Locusts travel in innumerable swarms at speeds of to 25mph, destroying fields, crops and anything edible in their path. Each insect eats its own body weight of food every day and can reach more than three inches in length, with a wing span of five inches.

See also:Britain set for invasion of killer wasps and ants this summer

Russian officials have increased aerial pesticides in a bid to quell the plague, but locals say that these have not proved effective: the chemicals are only effective in killing around 20 per cent of the insects.

CNN says that, although swarms of locusts descend on this part of southern Russia every year, this is the worst plague for 30 years. Higher temperatures and flooding have been blamed for the unusual numbers.

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