AZE.US
Thousands of locusts have appeared along beaches on Azerbaijan’s Absheron Peninsula, including the popular Novkhani coastline, alarming visitors and spreading across sand, parked cars and nearby recreation areas.
Beachgoers said they had never seen so many insects along the coast. Some reported locusts landing on their clothing and covering car windows and bodywork.
One employee who has worked near the Novkhani beach for six years said this was the first time he had witnessed an infestation on such a scale.
Barat Ahmadov, a biology researcher at the Institute for the Study of Living Systems, said the insects seen across Absheron resemble Egyptian locusts.
Experts have linked the surge in their population to weather conditions. Heavy rainfall in early spring produced denser vegetation across the peninsula, creating favorable feeding and breeding conditions. As plants later dried and water became less available, the insects may have moved toward coastal areas.
Specialists said the locusts do not pose a direct threat to people. They do not bite and are not known to transmit diseases, although their large numbers are causing considerable discomfort for beach visitors.
Azerbaijan’s Agrarian Services Agency said the situation is under control. Monitoring and chemical treatment are underway in areas where the insects have appeared in large numbers.
The agency said locusts have already disappeared from some locations following treatment, although they can still be seen on several sections of the coastline.
Experts also said biological control methods could help limit future outbreaks, including maintaining bird populations that naturally feed on the insects.
AZE.US