Locust swarm inspires new pizza topping Down Under

MELBOURNE - Locust swarms sweeping across northern Victoria are becoming a problem for most, but some entrepreneurs are earning a lot from the insects, with one even using them as pizza topping.

The idea to use locust as pizza topping had been introduced by Mayor Glenn Milne, who rounded up the insects and trapped them in a garbage bag.

“You can’t stop finding them when they get killed on your car, but it’s another story when you get out on the oval and try to catch them,” ABC News quoted him as saying.

Authorities say the swarms are among the biggest seen in northern Victoria in 30 years.

In the Mallee, the insects are plastered across the front of vehicles, which are forced to drive through locust clouds, and Mildura car wash operator Jeff Becker says his business has quadrupled as motorists try to keep their windscreens clean.

“The bugs don’t care, they’ll just get on your car,” he said.

“Doesn’t matter who you are, what you drive,” he explained.

But the swarms are not such good news for farmers as they are feasting on early-sown crops.

The pests are also causing problems for footballers, lawn bowlers and golfers who have to play on through clouds of locusts attacking any grassed playing surface. (ANI)