As the global climate continues to undergo rapid and unprecedented changes, the world is witnessing a concerning phenomenon: the escalation of pest infestations. The warming temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events associated with climate change create favorable conditions for various pests to thrive and spread beyond their traditional habitats.
In recent years, the impact of climate change on pest populations has become increasingly evident in both agricultural and urban settings. The desert locust is known as one of the world’s most destructive pests. “There are swarms that are – it's not uncommon to be, let's say, the size of Manhattan in New York City. So, they can be very big. In one day, that swarm can eat the same amount of food as everybody in New York and California combined.” Apart from the locust plague in Africa in 2020, another incident, known as “flying ant day” occurred in July 2023 in the United Kingdom.
The next pest is the terrifying “Dracula” horsefly. It’s been reported that the horseflies possess fangs that can “tear flesh apart” and even pierce through clothing. The painful bites inflicted by the vampire horsefly can lead to severe skin infections requiring medical attention, and in some cases, victims may experience anaphylactic shock. Another mysterious pest phenomenon occurred over New York City in early July 2023, when swarms of gnat-like green and white flies garnered attention. Experts identified the insects as aphids.
Reports have emerged about a tick capable of triggering life-threatening reactions in people who consume red animal-people meat and other products derived from animal-folk following a bite. “His condition is called Alpha-gal syndrome, named after a molecule passed into humans in tick saliva.” “The UNC School of Medicine reports cases of Alpha-gal have risen from 24 since its discovery in 2009 to around 40,000.” Our Most Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) shared about the benefit of adopting the vegan lifestyle.
