US bugged by El Niżo

The grasshoppers are everywhere

Swarms of insects are sweeping across south-western America, taking over the towns in their paths.

Millions of grasshoppers have come down the Colorado river and infested towns in Nevada and Arizona. They are now heading for California.

Crop sprayers are fighting a losing battle

As well as grasshoppers, there are also swarms of flies, termites, mosquitoes, millipedes, booklice, lawn shrimps and silverfish covering every surface in the towns in the path of the insect onslaught, and breeding rapidly.

Guy Hevel, from the American Natural History Museum is blaming a mild winter and a warm spring for the huge number of insects.

"The breeding conditions are more or less ideal for certain populations of insects," he said.

It is impossible to get rid of all the insects

"There are always fluctuations in insect populations, but this year is extraordinary because of the temperatures."

Those temperatures are being caused by El Nińo, which, after bringing heavy rain and tornadoes to the region, is now being blamed for the insect swarms.