Insect infestation

An insect pest infestation is a recently detected insect pest population, including an incursion, or a sudden significant increase of an established insect, disease agents or weed population in an area leading to damage to plants in production fields, forests or natural habitats and causing substantial damage to productivity, biodiversity or natural resources (adapted from FAO, 2019).

Risk factors

Higher temperature, severe and extreme weather events and drought stress can all result in reduced vigour of trees, making them more vulnerable to outbreaks of native and introduced pests and diseases. For example, the dieback of millions of hectares of pine forests caused by outbreaks of native bark beetles in Central America, Europe and North America is associated with climate change, impacts of extreme weather events, and, in some cases, inadequate forest management practices (FAO, 2020b).

Favourable climatic conditions, disruption of ecosystems and negligence of crop/forest hygiene contribute to growth in insect populations which can cause substantial damage regularly. In many cases, long distance spread of insects results from transportation of infested goods.

Risk reduction measures

Following principles of sustainable plant production, sustainable forest management and integrated pest management practices are the best approach for control, focusing on diversified production systems, regular surveillance, preparedness before potential outbreaks, and a rapid response to prevent escalation to unmanageable scales (Guzewich et al., 1997). Post disaster needs assessment (PDNA) is designed to evaluate immediate needs for recovery and restoration for better disaster response (HIP).

Latest Insect infestation additions in the Knowledge Base

Update
A Steering Committee has been established to guide the implementation of the recently launched master's (MSc) programme on Locust Management Science.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters
Update
The Locust Pesticide Management System developed by the FAO is an advanced digital tool designed to support countries to better manage and monitor pesticide stocks and equipment used for locust control to enhance preparedness.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters
Educational materials
The Porto City Hall, trough its Serviço Municipal de Proteção Civil do Município do Porto (Municipal Civil Protection Service) provides online information in Portuguese concerning preventive protection measures
Update
Africans are coming up with innovative solutions to overcome the effects of climate change on food production.
Context
Update
FAO and Argentina's agricultural agency Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA) have engaged in a productive exchange of knowledge and experience in locust management and control.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters
Locusts
Update
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in collaboration with Georgia State University, is developing a novel training approach using Virtual Reality (VR) to teach teams about locust surveys and controls during breeding and invasion.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters
Samburu landscape viewed through swarm of invasive, destructive Desert Locusts.
Update
Kenya is currently free from desert locust. However, developing capacities should continue so that the country is always prepared to manage any invasion. Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, and Wajir remain frontline desert locust invasion counties.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters
Women conduct a disaster risk assessment in a rural village in Lao PDR.
Update
The Gender Action Plan to support implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai GAP) has been launched on 18 March 2024.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
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