Swarms of Moruga grasshoppers have left the forests and entered residential communities in Princes Town, Piparo and Barrackpore scaring residents and even trapping some of them into their homes.
Ann Sampson of Fairfield Village, Moruga said it was the first time she had ever seen the insects descending on houses and gnawing away at the top of trees.
Sampson told Guardian Media she heard the strange noises on her roof and when she looked out of her window she saw the swarm like a black cloud.
"Something was falling on the roof. I was amazed at the invasion. I thought it was bees. I called my neighbours and we all started to call the ministry. I did not go to work today," she confessed.
The unusual sight also scared 65-year-old Bella Thompson who said it was the first time in her life that she has seen the insects.
"I am not leaving the house. I called the Ministry of Agriculture and they said they are aware of this. I know there are locusts in Moruga in the forests but it's the first time I ever saw them in this community," she added.
But an officer from the Eradication Unit said the insects were not locusts but were really the Moruga grasshopper.
"We have been liaising with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and comparing the Moruga insects with the desert locusts in Africa and what we have found is that these insects are really not locusts but they are grasshoppers. They do not feed like desert locusts," the source said.
Noting that mating patterns seem to be changing, the source said the grasshoppers are moving away from traditional nesting grounds and are searching for new nesting areas.
"They are flying above 50 feet so we cannot eradicate them. We have to track them. We are monitoring for egg beds so we can effectively deal with the hoppers by the end of December and early January," the source added.
Noting that the migratory patterns had changed, the source said, "Usually we do not see the grasshoppers in these residential areas. For this week we have been tracking three swarms, one at Piparo, one in Barrackpore and another huge swarm comprising of billions of grasshoppers which are now in Fairfield, Perry Young Road, La Savanne," the officer said.
"They are eating the top of many trees like mangoes, chagtagne and breadfruit. They are landing on houses and sitting on the roof," the source added.
Eight officers from the Eradication Unit have been monitoring the swarms.
The ministry said the insects are harmless and do not carry diseases. They are affected by loud noises and it is highly unlikely that they will lay and nest in a residential community.