The Locust War in Cyprus, S. Brown, Sprague & Co., 1886.
The Locust War in Cyprus by Samuel Brown is a historical report about the fight against locust swarms that destroyed crops in Cyprus in the late 19th century. Brown, who was the chief engineer for the government and a member of the Cyprus legislative council, shares a detailed report of the methods used and the challenges faced in combating this natural disaster. “I propose then, after some remarks on locusts in general, to give a short history of the Cypriot locusts, with a full description of the war of extermination which has at length been brought to a successful issue”.
Further, after some remarks on the locusts in general, “Locusts have from time immemorial been one of the great scourges of the world. By far the larger part of its inhabitable area has at one time or another been devastated by them […], he gives a full description of the specific species of locusts found in Cyprus. His keen interest in the Cypriot locusts is evident as he offers a comprehensive account of their behavior and impact. “Locusts vary considerably in size. Of the smaller species, of which the common Cyprus locust (Stauronotus Cruciatus) may be taken as a representative, the males, when fully grown, vary from 1 to 14 inches in length, and the females from 14 to 1½ inches. The Rocky Mountain Locust (Caloptenus Spretus) is a trifle smaller. The larger kinds of locust attain a length of from 2 to 2½ inches. In their habits, locusts vary greatly according to species and geographical distri- bution. I may here describe the general characteristics of the common Cyprus locust, as being the only species with whose habits I am familiar.”
“Although there are other species of locusts in Cyprus, the “Stauronotus Cruciatus" is the only one really dreaded and which it has been found necessary to attack. The other varieties are known locally as the "Scarnos" (Σκάρνος), a large brown locust, the "Sacra Arcidra" (Τζακροακρίδα), somewhat resembling the "Stauronotus," but easily distinguished by the greater length of its hind legs, and the "Kokkinos "(Κόκκινος), with wings of a pale reddish hue. There is a large green variety which the Cypriots include as an "Acridha," or locust. This is not, however, a true locust but a leaf cricket. I have in each case given the Cypriot (Greek) names, as I have not yet succeeded in having all the various species scientifically classified.” He follows this with a short history of the locust infestations on the island and a full description of the extensive efforts to exterminate them, culminating in a successful resolution.
The report details the devastating impact of the locust swarms on the island's agriculture. Brown’s descriptions highlight the severe damage to crops and the resulting hardships for the local population. “During the three centuries of the Turkish occupation the history of Cyprus is almost a blank […] One thing is certain, that from the close of the sixteenth, to the early part of the present century, lands once fertile ceased to be cultivated, and became a wilderness: the forests steadily disappeared, the population gradually decreased, and many villages were completely deserted, their sites throughout the length and breadth of the Island, being marked only by a few mounds of stone or the crumbling walls of a ruined church. The first 50 or 60 years of the present century would appear from the testimony of the older inhabitants, to have been a hard and trying time. The report describes the various techniques employed to control the locust population, including traditional methods and the strategies developed during that period. “During the campaign of 1884, a new system of tactics was adopted. Having an ample supply of material, instructions were given to surround the principal breeding grounds by continuous lines of screens. The practice had formerly been to fix lines of screens in advance of the locust colurans, but I had learned from experience that the result of this plan was often unsatisfactory. Sometimes the locusts outflanked the screens and effected their escape past their ends. This necessitated setting other screens to intercept the fugitives, if possible; or the locusts unexpectedly changed their line of march and moved sideways, or beat a retreat and thus evaded the screens altogether.” This demonstrates how the approach to dealing with the locusts evolved over time. Brown's firsthand observations and experiences provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of these methods. This report is not just a scientific analysis; it vividly portrays the human struggle and the innovative approaches taken to address the crisis. This comprehensive analysis helps readers understand the full extent of the disaster.
Overall, "The Locust War in Cyprus" is an enlightening and compelling read for anyone interested in historical accounts of environmental challenges. Samuel Brown's detailed research and engaging storytelling make this book a valuable contribution to the history of Cyprus and the study of pest control. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience of communities in the face of natural disasters and the importance of innovation in overcoming such challenges.
You can find this book, and many more, in the Research Centre of the CVAR.
The 'Book Of The Month' series is made possible with the support of OPAP (Cyprus).
