Brown locust explained

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]

Control

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]

Notes and References

  1. Walker F (1870) Catalogue of the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria in the Collection of the British Museum 4: 725
  2. Uvarov BP (1921) Trans. Entomol. Soc. London 7: 162
  3. http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1103185 OSF: Locustana (retrieved 2 February 2018)
  4. Book: Uvarov, B.P.. 1966. Grasshoppers and Locusts (Vol. 1). Cambridge University Press. Phase polymorphism.
  5. Price, R.E., Bateman, R.P., Brown, H.D., Butler, E.T. and Müller, E.J. (1997) Aerial spray trials against brown locust (Locustana pardalina, Walker) nymphs in South Africa using oil-based formulations of Metarhizium flavoviride. Crop Protection, 16, 345-351