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The far western region of Xinjiang is to raise starlings in artificial nests to create an "air force" of birds to catch locusts, which destroyed more than 3 million hectares (11,600 sq miles) of pasture every year, Xinhua said.

"Damage to pasture would fall by 70 percent if the squadrons were formed, saving 30 million yuan (US$4 million) in the first year," Li Jun, a local locust-control expert, was quoted as saying.

This year's extreme weather -- floods, lightning, landslides, drought and heatwaves -- has given rise to a variety of animal influxes.