Watan-Social media users circulated a video clip showing a dense spread of beetles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, sparking widespread criticism due to the lack of necessary fumigation efforts to combat them.
The video showed thousands of beetles gathering in streets and various parts of Saudi Arabia. After harsh criticism directed at the authorities, the Pest Control Center stepped forward to clarify.
The Pest Control Center in Saudi Arabia denied these reports, stating that the spread of insects was limited to a few sites with weak distribution, and only one location had a dense spread.
Video: Beetles Invade Saudi Arabia
In their statement, the center claimed that their teams visited the affected sites to identify the type of insect and assess the situation. It was found that these were beneficial beetles friendly to the environment, which feed on many insect pests, especially winged moths and flour beetles.
خنافس تطير ؟؟ pic.twitter.com/WGleq5gaeZ
— السفير 🇰🇼 (@Safir120) April 5, 2024
The statement continued, emphasizing that these beetles pose no harm to humans or animals, and their spread is attributed to the proliferation of flour beetles that occurred last year.
Saudi authorities noted that combating these beetles could have harmful adverse effects on the environment, as they are beneficial and help control pests while maintaining ecological balance.