MONEY IN LOCUSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

MONEY IN LOCUSTS.

FOOD FOR ANIMALS. MEANS OF COMBATTING PEST. A deadly plant pest may become a source of income if the suggestion of an entomologist in Kenya proves practicable. A renewed attack is being made on the locust throughout Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika, where the pest causes extensive damago to crops. According to tho Times inquiries are now on foot to discover whether there is a market for " locust meal " as a stock food. If there is a sale for the food, a new means of attacking the pest will have to be found, for the present method of using poisoned bait would defpat its own ends. There are hundreds of square miles of elephant grass in Uganda, twico as tall as man and almost impenetrable; breeding conditions are ideal, and there is constant threat of renewed invasions in cleared areas. Tho Kenya Government is calling upon everyone to help in the campaign, and has suggested that the swatting of locusts should becomo a " popular and fashionable pastime." To preparo the food the insect is dried and ground into powder. Feeding tests have been carried out on cattle without ill effoct, while it is well known that production of eggs increases when poultry are allowed to feed on locusts. But this form of diet has its dangers it would seem, for tho story is told of a farmer who sent his hens out to feed on locusts, and was amazed when they returned without their feathers!