locusts swarming a desert in Israel
Villagers are battling a plague of locusts on a tiny Greek island, prompting a state of emergency to be declared. Pictured, locusts swarming a desert in Israel

Villagers are battling a plague of locusts on a tiny Greek island, prompting a state of emergency to be declared.

The sleepy port of Agios Efstratios has been overrun with millions of the insects, which are devouring so much vegetation that the sheep are starving.

Desperate students from Athens have been traversing the rocky terrain to spray the locusts with pesticide - but they continue to swarm across the island.

locust
The sleepy port of Agios Efstratios has been overrun with millions of the insects, which are devouring so much vegetation that the sheep are starving


The isolated island has about 200 residents who are regularly faced with the problem of locust infestation.

However, this plague is said to be bigger than ever - which is why a state of emergency has been declared after years of ignoring the issue.

Students from the Agricultural University of Athens, supervised by scientists, sprayed the locusts with pesticides diflubenzuron and spinosad.

'It's difficult because of the landscape - they have to go on foot,' a member of the local administration, Stella Spanou, told the BBC.

'The eco-friendly chemicals are working, they got good results. But there are still many locusts because they couldn't spray everywhere,' she added.

The students had to get a special government permit for the pesticides as the chemicals were not registered for use against locusts.

Ms Spanou revealed that the island has asked the government to declare a state of emergency numerous times before, but it is 'expensive' to do so.

'They acted this time because the problem is really big. It means we can overcome bureaucratic problems and do things much quicker,' she said.

The island, which is 19 miles south of Limnos, has one village, where locusts are eating their way through the vegetable gardens.

Agios Efstratios boasts rare flora and fauna - and is a part of the EU's Natura 2000 conservation network as a result.

Ms Spanou explained that chemicals cannot be used in the village to get rid of them.

Residents, who rely on agriculture and fishing for income, may get compensation for the plague.

Councillors are discussing whether they could be appeased with tax deduction.