“That Place Always Has an Infestation”: Grasshopper Infestation at Marelden Spooks SA

• A woman from Witbank in Mpumalanga shared a startling video of her home surrounded by hundreds of grasshoppers that had taken over the walls and garage door of her house.
• The video posted by @innocentia.nkosi.9 in mid-April shows the insects covering most surfaces of the property while oddly avoiding the grass and lawn areas.
• South Africans were quick to point out that this area has a history of insect problems, with one commenter noting: "That place has always had infestation..."

Content creator @innocentia.nkosi.9, who lives in Witbank, posted a video in mid-April showing her home covered with grasshoppers. She captioned the clip:

"Ama grasshopper 🦗 all over Marelden 🙈"

The video shows hundreds of grasshoppers covering the outside walls of her house and garage door. Strangely, the insects seem to prefer the building structures while mostly avoiding the grass and lawn areas as the camera pans around. The grasshoppers appear to be concentrated on vertical surfaces rather than on the ground or plants.

Residents commented that this isn't the first time the area has faced insect problems. Previously, the region dealt with a fly infestation that affected parts of Johannesburg as well.

Watch the Facebook clip below.

Understanding grasshopper swarms

Grasshopper populations naturally go through cycles, with high numbers appearing for two to four years followed by several years of lower numbers. Even during typical years, grasshoppers can be annoying in gardens, but during outbreak years, they can destroy unprotected plants and even damage small trees and shrubs.

These insects are more likely to cause problems in areas with less rainfall. Out of more than 100 grasshopper species, only four types cause most of the damage in residential areas.

Grasshopper numbers usually increase as summer goes on, with adults more likely to move into yards and gardens in July and August. Problems often get worse when nearby crops or grasslands are harvested, forcing the grasshoppers to look for new food sources.

Briefly News spoke to health expert Jayshri Rangasamy on the effects or dangers that can be caused by a grasshopper infestation. She stated that:

"Grasshopper infestations can indirectly impact human health by causing food shortages due to crop damage, leading to malnutrition. Efforts to control outbreaks often involve chemical insecticides, which pose risks such as respiratory issues and skin irritation. Additionally, grasshoppers and their droppings can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, and the environmental damage caused by insecticides can indirectly affect ecosystems and human well-being."

"Though rare, grasshoppers may carry bacterial pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli from their environment, which can lead to foodborne illnesses if ingested or surfaces are contaminated. Bacteria like Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have also been found in grasshoppers, however, the risk of direct disease transmission to humans remains minimal."

Reactions to the grasshopper invasion

@Louise Mnisi noted:

"That place always has an infestation. It was flies back then."

@Thapelo Nevig shared:

"I think they were everywhere... I passed by Verena at Global fuel station, and these things were all over the place at the garage; we couldn't even gas up, we had to drive until Witbank."

@Prudy O Tall asked:

"Are they at your home or the whole place?"

@Nkosi Sunshine Innocentia replied:

"Every household."

@Thapelo Makofane admitted:

"I thought I was the only one who experienced this."

@TR OY confessed:

"Yoh, those things are creepy and always give me a blood rush 😅"

3 other wildlife encounters

• Briefly News recently reported on a disturbing scene where lifeless sea creatures washed up on a coastline.
• In a bizarre animal interaction, a video went viral showing a baboon wearing jean shorts removing all the feathers from a chicken.
• Briefly News also shared footage of a terrifying moment when a woman trying to take photos at an animal park was suddenly pulled by a large bear.

Source: Briefly News