Grasshopper swarms invade S. Coorg

Grasshoppers resembling locusts, have been causing sleepless nights to farmers in and  around s. kodagu since the last couple of days. Swarms were spotted entrring houses attracted by the electric bulbs. Researchers at the college of forestry, ponnampet, after an initial study of the inscets have confirmed to coffeeland news that the swarms were of long whiskered grasshoppers and not locusts since the locusts are short whiskered and to help them fly furtherlocusts have different legs and their chest area is also wider.The grasshoppers noticed in s.kodagu have Praying mantis type charecterstics and these do not destroy cash crops. Farmers should have no reason to worry from these swarms since they feed on certain types of grasses only.What is of concern to scientists and naturalists is the origin of these swarms and the reasons for the huge explosion in their population and the reason as to why the swarms were attaacted to light? These questions will be answered in a couple of days once  the research is completed Does the flowering of the bamboo have any connection to these swarms? Maybe , is all that entomologists are saying  right now. Scientists& researchers are of the opinion that ther is no reason to panic and that once further investigation is completed all the grey areas will be filled in.