Penza, 30 June 2011. PenzaNews. Ministry of Agriculture of the Penza region imposed state of emergency in the district of Gorodishche in connection with attack of locusts. According to the Deputy Minister Yegor Chernyshev, insects appeared on fallow land between the villages Central Elyuzan and Lopatino on the area of about 500 hectares.

He said: "Within several days the locusts multiplied actively, and therefore there is threat with loss of crops of sunflower, oats and wheat. Today, the density of colonies distribution has reached more than one thousand animals on sq. km".

According to Yegor Chernyshev, this fact occurred the first time in 10 years.

He said: "We had an experience in fighting the locusts — in 1999 there were insects on the area of 60 hectares in the Lopatinskiy district, but the center of the locust was quickly localized".

At the time there were several groups for pest control were established in the district Gorodishche. The processing of fields with insecticides and pesticides is made round the clock.

The Deputy Minister said: "While the situation can be controlled, but it is important to make all necessary arrangements till the larvae reborn. Otherwise, the locust invasion could have unpredictable consequences for crop".

There are already several regions of the country which have hit of locust invasions. State of emergency because of the danger of loss of crops was introduced in Astrakhan, Kalmykya and two districts of the Saratov region. There was the alarming situation with mass breeding in Stavropol, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan, Bashkortostan, Rostov, Samara and the Chelyabinsk regions. On the occupied areas the Italian locust dominates.