New Delhi, May 29 (IANS): The Delhi government on Friday started an awareness camp and spraying of pesticides on crops, to deal with the attack of locusts in the national capital, Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai said.

Rai said the government is spraying pesticides on the crops to protect them from the damage.

"A team of the Agriculture Department is having sessions with the farmers here to spread awareness...," Rai said in a tweet.

On Thursday, the Delhi government issued an advisory for spraying pesticides in view of the increasing threat of locusts in north India.

"As the swarms usually fly in day time, and rest during night time therefore the locusts should not be allowed to rest especially during night," it said.

The circular also said that the concerned authorities may carry out spraying of insecticide or pesticides, as per need during night, with the help of spraying equipment. The chemicals suggested for spray were -- Malathion 50% EC; Malathion 25% WP; Chlorpyrifos 20 % EC; and Chlorpyrifos 50% EC.

The locust is a species of swarming short-horned grasshopper. It travels in large numbers -- up to millions -- and is known to devour everything in their path, posing an unprecedented threat to food supply and livelihoods of millions of people.

The species do not keep themselves confined to agricultural and horticultural crops, but also attack vegetation, plants, gardens and orchards.