Odessa was overrun by locusts

On the night of June 20–21, the streets, sidewalks, and paths of Shevchenko Park in Odesa were suddenly swarming with large, long-winged grasshoppers. <span>In the morning, the insects could be seen on the asphalt of roads, park paths, near streetlights, and illuminated buildings, and city residents assumed that Odesa had once again been hit by a locust swarm.</span>

<span>However, as ornithologist </span> Serhiy Kurochkin<span> explained, these </span>were actually long-winged forms of the gray grasshopper (Decticus verrucivorus)—one of the largest members of the Eurasian grasshopper family.

“This species is interesting in that it is not a plant-eating pest, but primarily a predator. Gray grasshoppers feed on small insects, caterpillars, aphids, and other invertebrates, playing an important role as natural regulators of the populations of many insect species,” the ornithologist noted.

Serhiy Kurochkin attributes this unusual infestation of these insects to favorable weather conditions—a mild winter and a warm, humid spring. Under such conditions, the population of gray grasshoppers grows, and some of the insects develop longer wings and gain the ability to fly long distances. These individuals leave their birthplaces and spread to new territories. According to the ornithologist, another contributing factor is the presence of powerful artificial light sources.

“Like many nocturnal insects, grasshoppers navigate using natural celestial bodies. Bright city lights disrupt their navigation, so they gather en masse near illuminated areas, where they often fall to the ground or remain until morning,” noted Serhiy Kurochkin.

He also noted that urban birds immediately took advantage of nature’s unexpected gift.

“The most active were the starlings, which deftly collected large insects from the asphalt. They were joined by gray crows, and it was especially interesting to watch the house sparrows. These small birds usually hunt much smaller prey, but this time they didn’t miss the opportunity to catch a grasshopper that was enormous for them. For parents who are currently feeding their young chicks, such protein-rich food is a real find,” the ornithologist noted.

Locusts are not uncommon in the Odesa region. In 2025, an increase in their numbers was observed. However, this phenomenon was not limited to the Odesa region. At that time, the Zaporizhzhia region implemented special protective measures in the territory of the Kushuhum Village Council and in the city of Zaporizhzhia. Measures to contain and eradicate the insects are ongoing. In the Kherson region, following the effective eradication of locusts, the lifting of restrictions is being considered. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the locust population remains below the economic damage threshold. 

Кирило Бойко