Quelea

These grain-devouring pests (usually called quelea) like to roost together in the tall grass after a day in the fields. ❋ Unknown (1993)

Irrigation projects may also encourage pesticide use to control insects and other pests such as the red-billed quelea or dioch (Quelea quelea). ❋ Unknown (2008)

The Herald said an invasion of quelea birds, a local pest that destroys wheat when it is nearly ready for harvesting, had also compromised wheat yields. ❋ Unknown (2006)

Desperately-needed wheat crops in central Zimbabwe are being ravaged by a plague of quelea birds, national radio reported ❋ Unknown (2005)

And if it can be brought to perfection, it might transform the production of cereals throughout the quelea combat zone. ❋ Unknown (1996)

The most numerous and most destructive bird on earth, the seed-eating quelea (Quelea quelea) can descend on a farm in such numbers as to consume the entire grain crop in a matter of hours. ❋ Unknown (1996)

In isolated locations (and on sites quelea should find irresistible), they planted plots of napier grass and shaped them with slightly narrowed waists where the barriers and traps could be easily erected. ❋ Unknown (1996)

Although the fact that other species roost with quelea is a concern that needs to be evaluated, techniques such as use of chemicals and explosions, for instance - are as indiscriminate or more so. ❋ Unknown (1996)

Finger millet is subject to bird predators - notably to the notorious quelea (see Appendix A). ❋ Unknown (1996)

The fields of ripe grain Iying in the path of quelea migrations are essentially doomed. ❋ Unknown (1996)

Where quelea occurs, family members must patrol the ripening fields for weeks, disrupting their lives and restricting all outside activities such as jobs or schooling. ❋ Unknown (1996)

Earlier this year, quelea birds invaded some areas and affected harvests. ❋ Unknown (1996)

Efforts to control quelea with poisons, napalm, dynamite, pathogens, and electronic devices have failed. ❋ Unknown (1996)

These birds include the quelea - a small, rather nondescript weaverbird that has replaced the locust as the most serious pest of small-grain crops in parts of Africa. ❋ Unknown (1996)

Other problems highlighted in a study were river weed and water reed encroachment, silting, red-billed quelea infestation, riverbed degradation and riverbank destablisation. ❋ Unknown (1995)

NAIROBI - Millions of sparrow-like quelea birds have infested two key farming areas of ❋ Unknown (1994)

But when reaching plague proportions and numbering in their millions, quelea can wreck havoc on any wheat crop. ❋ Unknown (2010)