Officials urge calm after locust plague in New Taipei

Officials urge calm after locust plague in New Taipei

2025-08-26

In a biblical twist, New Taipei City has been slammed by a plague of locusts. They’ve been spotted on people’ balconies, sidewalks and even in the MRT and bus stations, which see hordes during rush hour. The good news is that these locusts are not poisonous. The city government’s Department of Agriculture says this is a seasonal phenomenon and is urging the public not to panic.

Recently, videos of locusts infesting New Taipei City have gone viral online. Whether it’s roadside plants or dead branches, several locusts will be seen swarming on them. They’ve even been spotted in people’s homes, balconies and car windows.

Member of the public
There are so many. There are so many at school.

Member of the public
I think this is really interesting. I just want to catch one and show it to my kids.

Locusts have been spotted in places ranging from Linkou and Taishan District to Zhonghe and Yonghe.

A Lo
Insect expert
They appear in large numbers during this season, and this probably doesn’t really have a big connection to humidity or environmental changes. They happen to be insects that come out in the summer, when it’s late summer or early autumn. In addition to the wilderness, there’s also underbrush in urban areas. Basically anywhere where there is undergrowth may be their habitat.

The locusts spotted in New Taipei are known as Hieroglyphus tonkinesis. They breed in large numbers from May to October each year and are most commonly found in underbrush. New Taipei City’s Department of Agriculture says this is a seasonal ecological phenomenon. The insects are not a pest, so there is no cause for the public to panic.

A Lo
Insect expert
The locusts that have recently appeared frequently are called Hieroglyphus tonkinesis. They mainly feed on plants. They may eat some grass plants, such as rice, bamboo, sugarcane or corn.

The species is not poisonous. Experts remind the public that keeping their environment clean can keep them away. If you see one, use a newspaper or containers to gently guide it away.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#bugs #insects #locusts #plague

勿恐慌! 新北驚見蝗蟲潮專家:"異歧蔗蝗"季節性現象

2025-08-26

新北市近日爆發「蝗蟲潮」，從陽台、人行道，甚至是上下班人潮眾多的捷運、公車站，都傳出看到蝗蟲的蹤影。專家指出，這批蝗蟲的品種是異歧蔗蝗，沒有毒性！新北農業局也指出，這是因為季節性生態現象，民眾不必恐慌！

近期網路瘋傳蝗蟲出沒新北市的影片，不管是路邊的植物，光是枯枝，就停留好幾隻蝗蟲，連住家、陽台，車窗上也看到牠的蹤影。

[[民眾]]
“很多，我們學校很多”

[[民眾]]
“會覺得很有趣吧，想要就是抓給小朋友看”

蝗蟲被發現的地點，從林口，泰山到中和、永和都有，難道是發生「蟲蟲危機」嗎？

[[昆蟲專家阿羅老師]]
“他們在這個季節的時候會大量的出現，可能跟潮濕或者是環境變遷沒有太大關係。剛好是夏天出來活動的昆蟲，夏末秋初的時候。除了荒郊野嶺以外，市區也有草叢，那基本上只要有草叢的地方，就有可能是它們的棲息地”

出現在新北的蝗蟲就是異歧蔗蝗，每年5到10月，它們會大量的繁殖，最常出沒在草叢中。新北市農業局表示，這是季節性生態現象，異歧蔗蝗不是害蟲，民眾無需驚慌。

[[昆蟲專家阿羅老師]]
“最近常出現的這種蝗蟲，叫做異歧蔗蝗。他們主要是吃植物，他們可能會以一些禾本科的植物，像水稻、竹子、甘蔗或者是玉米，之類的植物為主食”

異歧蔗蝗不具毒性，專家提醒，保持環境清潔，如果不想看到，建議可以使用報紙或容器輕輕引導移除。

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