BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The possibility for desert locusts to wreak havoc in China is quite small because of the topography and climate characteristics in the country's border areas, as well as the migration habits of desert locusts, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Influenced by factors such as abundant rainfall and an extended monsoon season, some countries in East Africa, West Asia and South Asia are currently experiencing seldom-seen plagues of locusts.

The migration of desert locusts requires a temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius, and the relative humidity needs to reach 60 percent to 70 percent, said an official with the ministry.

Considering the barriers of the Kunlun Mountains and the Himalayas, it is difficult for locusts to cross the cold areas at high altitudes to enter China, the official said.

Experts believe there may have been distribution of desert locusts in parts of Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province in southwest China, which border Nepal and Myanmar, respectively. But the probability of causing harm is very small, said the official.

Desert locusts are major agricultural pests in valleys and oases in the tropical desert regions of Africa and Asia. They have a strong flight ability and large appetite and can gather to form huge swarms.