The brown locust (Locustana pardalina)[1] is a medium-sized small locust species in the monotypic genus Locustana.[2] [3] It is found in Southern Africa and shows classic gregarious behaviour with phase polymorphism on crowding.[4]
Hopper band outbreaks are frequent in the Karoo and are controlled by farmers with insecticide spray operations: usually deltamethrin with motorised mistblowers set for ultra-low volume application (subsidised by the government).
Because of the environmental sensitivity of the Karoo biome and concerns about toxicity to grazing sheep, a biological pesticide product called 'Green Muscle', based on the entomopathogenic fungus (Metarhizium acridum), was tested by the LUBILOSA Programme in collaboration with the South African Plant Protection Institute: using novel application technique to compensate for the slow speed of kill.[5]