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Published online 20 August 2004 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news040816-13

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Africa's locust crisis worsens

Insect swarms swelling towards plague in Africa as Australia prepares for separate attack.

Experts are warning that swarms of locusts munching their way across Africa may yet reach plague proportions - while Australia is bracing itself for the onslaught of another species of the voracious insect.

African desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria), bunch together into flying swarms that can strip fields of crops overnight.

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