Agronomy

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 187 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Are Mycopesticides the Future of Locust Control?

by Michel Lecoq and Arianne J. Cease

Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2344; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102344 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1254

Abstract

Locusts are a very serious problem for agriculture and for the livelihoods of populations around the world [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

10 pages, 1520 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

What Have We Learned after Millennia of Locust Invasions?

by Michel Lecoq and Arianne Cease

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020472 - 14 Feb 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4680

Abstract

Locust outbreaks have long been a very serious problem for agriculture and livelihoods in many countries globally. This article is an introduction to a Special Issue of the journal Agronomy devoted to the management of these pests. Although not exhaustive, the nineteen articles [...] Read more.

Locust outbreaks have long been a very serious problem for agriculture and livelihoods in many countries globally. This article is an introduction to a Special Issue of the journal Agronomy devoted to the management of these pests. Although not exhaustive, the nineteen articles herein cover a variety of species, many regions of the world and many aspects of pest locust management and research in the early 21st century. This book is a source of information and reflection, as well as a resource, to support new areas of investigation and practice contributing to the process of developing sustainable solutions for locust invasions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 1587 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fungal-Based Biopesticide Formulations to Control Nymphs and Adults of the Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forskål (Orthoptera: Acrididae): A Laboratory and Field Cage Study

by Waqas Wakil, Muhammad Usman Ghazanfar, Muhammad Usman, David Hunter and Wangpeng Shi

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051160 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3168

Abstract

This is the first field study in which we have tested the efficacy of four different entomopathogenic fungal (EPF) formulations together in single study—i.e., Green Muscle, Green Guard, Metarhizium anisopliae, and an isolate of Beauveria bassiana (isolate WG-11)—against nymphs and adults of [...] Read more.

This is the first field study in which we have tested the efficacy of four different entomopathogenic fungal (EPF) formulations together in single study—i.e., Green Muscle, Green Guard, Metarhizium anisopliae, and an isolate of Beauveria bassiana (isolate WG-11)—against nymphs and adults of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forskål (Orthoptera: Acrididae). We conducted several different studies: (a) lethal bioassay against the 3rd, 5th, and adult stages under laboratory conditions; (b) sublethal effects on the reproduction, diet consumption, fecal production, and weight gain; (c) a greenhouse trial; and (d) a field cage trial. Under laboratory conditions, all EPF formulations caused significant mortality, and the highest efficacy was observed with Green Muscle, followed by Green Guard, B. bassiana, and M. anisopliae. Susceptibility was found to be greatest in 3rd-instar nymphs, followed by 5th instars, and then adults. Along with lethal effects, sublethal doses of EPF reduced the number of egg pods per female, total eggs per pod, and egg hatching, while extending nymphal developmental time and reducing adult longevity; again, Green Muscle performed better. Sublethal doses not only retarded reproduction, but also caused behavioral changes, including reductions in food consumption, fecal production, and weight gain. All EPF formulations not only produced significant mortality in laboratory conditions, but also performed very well under the greenhouse and field conditions. The maximum mortality against 3rd-instar (81.7% and 74.0%), 5th-instar (73.3% and 65.1%), and adult locusts (67.5% and 58.9%) was observed when using Green Muscle under greenhouse and field trials, respectively. The current study showed that all of the EPF formulations have the potential to reduce pest populations, and could be used in the integrated pest management program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Decline in Harvester Termites in Madagascar following Multiple Barrier Treatments with Fipronil against Migratory Locust

by Ralf Peveling

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020310 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2362

Abstract

Mounds of the harvester termite Coarctotermes clepsydra (Sjöstedt) (Isoptera: Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) are a typical feature of savanna woodlands in Madagascar. With densities of up to 300 termitaria ha⁻¹, this species provides key ecosystem services and is an important food source for [...] Read more.

Mounds of the harvester termite Coarctotermes clepsydra (Sjöstedt) (Isoptera: Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) are a typical feature of savanna woodlands in Madagascar. With densities of up to 300 termitaria ha⁻¹, this species provides key ecosystem services and is an important food source for wildlife. Following large-scale aerial blanket and barrier treatments with the insecticide fipronil to control an outbreak of migratory locust in the late 1990s, evidence emerged that C. clepsydra and related food webs were adversely affected. However, neither the scale nor the duration of the effects were known. The present ex post study investigated the recovery of C. clepsydra populations subjected to multiple barrier treatments against hopper bands in 1998 and 1999 at estimated cumulative dose rates of 1.7–3.4 g fipronil ha⁻¹. At the time of the survey in 2007, both the density of occupied termitaria (30.2 versus 106.8 mounds ha⁻¹) and mound occupancy (24.3% versus 70.0%) were significantly lower in repeatedly sprayed so-called hotspots than in unsprayed areas. The overall adverse effect (mortality in sprayed areas corrected for mortality in unsprayed areas) was E = 64.4%. The main outcome of this study is a strikingly low resilience of C. clepsydra populations, which did not recover in hotspots within eight years, with likely repercussions on food webs. This study shows that the environmental benefits of barrier treatments are forfeited if the same areas are treated repeatedly during the same campaign. Recommendations are given for the mitigation of these risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 789 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Differences in Control Operations during the 2019–2021 Desert Locust Upsurge

by Renata Retkute, Rebekah G. K. Hinton, Keith Cressman and Christopher A. Gilligan

Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2529; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122529 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3554

Abstract

The desert locust remains a major threat to global food security. Control operations are a crucial tool to manage crisis; this research investigated the nature of control operations conducted between 2019–2021. Historical data on desert locust and control operations were obtained from the [...] Read more.

The desert locust remains a major threat to global food security. Control operations are a crucial tool to manage crisis; this research investigated the nature of control operations conducted between 2019–2021. Historical data on desert locust and control operations were obtained from the survey reports at the FAO Locust Hub and analysed with respect to survey reports, land cover types, cropland/rangeland extent and crop productivity data. We found that 16.1% of the grid cells with locust presence and 14.9% of the grid cells with control operations had a proportion of rangeland higher than 0.75; while 13.3% of the grid cells with locust presence and 13.2% of the grid cells with control operations had a proportion of croplands higher than 0.75, highlighting that locust presence and control operations were reported in both rangeland and cropland. Control operations continue to be used both to reduce overall locust numbers and to protect crops. Furthermore, through identifying which crops were most at risk, our analyses indicate that wheat production was under the highest strain during periods of increased locust infestations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Desert Locust Stopped by Tibetan Highlands during the 2020 Upsurge

by Jun Liu, Michel Lecoq and Long Zhang

Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2287; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112287 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5214

Abstract

Desert locust is an important pest to agriculture. In 2019–2020, a major upsurge originated in the southern Arabian Peninsula and gradually spread to east Africa, then to south-west Asia, as far as Pakistan and India, even reaching Nepal, resulting in major agricultural losses. [...] Read more.

Desert locust is an important pest to agriculture. In 2019–2020, a major upsurge originated in the southern Arabian Peninsula and gradually spread to east Africa, then to south-west Asia, as far as Pakistan and India, even reaching Nepal, resulting in major agricultural losses. For the first time, a few swarms entered southern Tibet. Using field observations and experiments, we studied their path to the Tibetan plateau and their behavior at these very high altitudes. The locusts moved up the Tibetan valleys from low-lying areas (1700 m) to much higher elevations (5400 m). The low temperatures and high humidity put them under severe stress; their activities were limited, and they did not survive long or produce local offspring. It is clear that the high-altitude environmental conditions in the Himalayan mountains provided an important natural barrier that limited the northward expansion of the desert locust populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

9 pages, 3922 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Technology for Desert Locust Control

by Graham A. Matthews

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061052 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5317

Abstract

Locust outbreaks usually begin in remote unpopulated areas following higher than average rainfall. The need to survey such areas has suggested that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often referred to as drones, might be a suitable means of surveying areas with suitable detection devices [...] Read more.

Locust outbreaks usually begin in remote unpopulated areas following higher than average rainfall. The need to survey such areas has suggested that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often referred to as drones, might be a suitable means of surveying areas with suitable detection devices to survey areas and detect important locust concentrations. This would facilitate determining where sprays need to be applied at this early stage and would minimise the risk of swarms developing and migrating to feed on large areas of crops. Ideally, a drone could also spray groups of hoppers and adults at this stage. To date, tests have shown limitations in their use to apply sprays, although it has been suggested that using a fleet of drones might be possible. The use of biopesticide in these areas has the advantage of being more environmentally acceptable as the spray has no adverse impact on birds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Locusts and People: Integrating the Social Sciences in Sustainable Locust Management

by Clara Therville, John M. Anderies, Michel Lecoq and Arianne Cease

Agronomy 2021, 11(5), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050951 - 12 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4407

Abstract

Locust outbreaks have impacted agricultural societies for millennia, they persist today, and humans aim to manage them using preventative strategies. While locusts have been a focus for natural sciences for more than a century, social sciences remain largely underrepresented. Yet, organizational, economic, and [...] Read more.

Locust outbreaks have impacted agricultural societies for millennia, they persist today, and humans aim to manage them using preventative strategies. While locusts have been a focus for natural sciences for more than a century, social sciences remain largely underrepresented. Yet, organizational, economic, and cultural variables substantially impact these management strategies. The social sciences are one important means through which researchers and practitioners can better understand these issues. This paper examines the scope and purpose of different subfields of social science and explores how they can be applied to different issues faced by entomologists and practitioners to implement sustainable locust research and management. In particular, we discuss how environmental governance studies resonate with two major challenges faced by locust managers: implementing a preventative strategy over a large spatial scale and managing an intermittent outbreak dynamic characterized by periods of recession and absence of the threat. We contend that the social sciences can help facilitate locust management policies, actions and outcomes that are more legitimate, salient, robust, and effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ups and Downs of the Italian Locust (Calliptamus italicus L.) Populations in the Siberian Steppes: On the Horns of Dilemmas

by Michael G. Sergeev

Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040746 - 12 Apr 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3467

Abstract

The Italian locust is a common species and one of the most important pest in the steppes, semi-deserts, and deserts of Central and Southwestern Asia and also in the Mediterranean Region. The aim of this paper is to discuss some problems arising from [...] Read more.

The Italian locust is a common species and one of the most important pest in the steppes, semi-deserts, and deserts of Central and Southwestern Asia and also in the Mediterranean Region. The aim of this paper is to discuss some problems arising from studies of eco-geographical distribution and long-term dynamics of this species, especially in the southern part of West Siberia, and their consequences for management of pest species and rare forms. Peculiarities of the Italian locust populations’ distribution and long-term dynamics are discussed for the north-eastern part of the species range (south-eastern West Siberian Plain, North-East and, partly, East Kazakhstan). Notable differences between local populations are revealed. Some issues arising from results of insecticide experimental treatments (mainly effectiveness of barrier applications with different compounds in variable environment) and ecological association between the Italian locust and rare Orthoptera are also discussed. Some suggestions as to requirements for improved monitoring, supervision, control, and forecasting of the Italian locust populations’ distribution and dynamics are also provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1994 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Could Entomophagy Be an Effective Mitigation Measure in Desert Locust Management?

by Ahmed Ali Samejo, Riffat Sultana, Santosh Kumar and Samiullah Soomro

Agronomy 2021, 11(3), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030455 - 28 Feb 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3552

Abstract

The desert locust has been a notorious pest since ancient times. A population upsurge hit Pakistan in 2019 and caused tremendous damage to agriculture and livelihoods. To take advantage of this ongoing upsurge, we conducted a field study to verify whether locust collection [...] Read more.

The desert locust has been a notorious pest since ancient times. A population upsurge hit Pakistan in 2019 and caused tremendous damage to agriculture and livelihoods. To take advantage of this ongoing upsurge, we conducted a field study to verify whether locust collection could be an interesting control method to protect crops in the event of an invasion, as well as an accepted food resource for poor rural communities. A village in the Thar desertic region was selected as a type-locality. An awareness campaign was launched to promote the collection and consumption of locusts as well as to alert people of their nutritional value. Two large swarms arrived near the village and several other swarms affected places nearby. Around 3033 kg of locusts were collected through handpicking at night. Most of the locusts were eaten and, as a result, hoppers of the next generation did not emerge in the type-locality; however, hopper bands appeared in areas where entomophagy was not practiced. The study area had less locust activity because swarms could not lay eggs due to entomophagy by the villagers. The consumption of desert locusts could be an effective practice to prevent malnutrition and protein deficiency and, to a certain extent, an efficient mitigation measure to help local populations to better protect themselves and their crops against locust outbreaks. Collection and consumption of locusts should be encouraged while remaining realistic about its real impact on locust control. This should also be done in concert with local authorities to take into account the risks to human health and to avoid the consumption of insects treated with pesticides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Swarm of Injustice: A Sociopolitical Framework for Global Justice in the Management of the Desert Locust

by Jeffrey A. Lockwood and Michael Christopher Sardo

Agronomy 2021, 11(2), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020386 - 21 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3048

Abstract

In recent years, scientists and managers have advocated for the integration of the social sciences (particularly political science and economics) and the humanities (particularly moral philosophy) with the natural sciences (particularly entomology and ecology) in developing a full understanding of locust-management programs. In [...] Read more.

In recent years, scientists and managers have advocated for the integration of the social sciences (particularly political science and economics) and the humanities (particularly moral philosophy) with the natural sciences (particularly entomology and ecology) in developing a full understanding of locust-management programs. In this paper, we pursue such a synthesis by using the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) as an exemplar case. After an overview of this insect’s biology, ecology, and management, we provide a brief summary of the standard, moral theories (utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics) and consider their shortcomings with regard to developing a framework for understanding the socioeconomic complexity of locust management. Next, we address some of the models of global justice and focus on two fundamental questions: Who is a moral agent with regard to desert locust management, and how should we justly distribute the responsibilities among agents during preventive and reactive modes? After identifying the agents, we use a fourfold set of principles to construct a framework for locust management consistent with global justice and apply this conceptual system to two hypothetical scenarios. We conclude with some observations from political philosophy that offer progress toward a comprehensive and applicable theory for locust management in the context of global justice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

15 pages, 936 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Early Intervention against Desert Locusts: Current Proactive Approach and the Prospect of Sustainable Outbreak Prevention

by Allan T. Showler, Mohammed Abdallahi Ould Babah Ebbe, Michel Lecoq and Koutaro O. Maeno

Agronomy 2021, 11(2), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020312 - 10 Feb 2021

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5317

Abstract

The desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), a major Old World pest, is associated with agricultural losses and undesirable societal effects. There are three broad approaches to its control: reaction, proaction, and outbreak prevention. Reaction protects crops from swarms but it is [...] Read more.

The desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), a major Old World pest, is associated with agricultural losses and undesirable societal effects. There are three broad approaches to its control: reaction, proaction, and outbreak prevention. Reaction protects crops from swarms but it is costly and disruptive. Proaction involves early intervention during outbreaks to avert further development to plague status; it is in current use because it is effective, relatively inexpensive, and it is the best available option for now. Outbreak prevention, largely unavailable since the 1970s, at least on a regional scale, will require highly sensitive surveillance to detect the onset of gregarization. Sufficiently early intervention can, hypothetically, extend desert locust recession indefinitely. While research on desert locust biology and behavior is, almost, no longer an urgent requirement to improve the efficacy of control, new priorities have arisen for developing outbreak prevention capability (and for enhancing proaction). Salient needs presently include long residual tactics for prophylactic (preventive) control in breeding areas, intervention thresholds, and improved, sustainable coordination among stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels. The most recent desert locust episode of 2020 provides an illustrative example of how prevention might have averted the entire upsurge, and how proaction in some countries contained the spread of swarms. The initial outbreak in Saudi Arabia escaped control due to unpreparedness, and impacts of armed conflict in Somalia and Yemen, which weakened surveillance and control, further contributed to the invasion of ≥22 countries, and the spraying of ≈4.9 million ha, by the end of 2020. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 7167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incidence and Ramifications of Armed Conflict in Countries with Major Desert Locust Breeding Areas

by Allan T. Showler and Michel Lecoq

Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010114 - 8 Jan 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4098

Abstract

Despite many areas of progress in recent years, desert locust surveillance and control is impaired by many obstacles, the most intractable of which is insecurity. Insecurity involves rebellions, insurgencies, civil and international war, banditry, terrorism, and minefields. Obstruction of desert locust operations in [...] Read more.

Despite many areas of progress in recent years, desert locust surveillance and control is impaired by many obstacles, the most intractable of which is insecurity. Insecurity involves rebellions, insurgencies, civil and international war, banditry, terrorism, and minefields. Obstruction of desert locust operations in breeding areas by ongoing armed conflict and landmines constitutes “direct” insecurity. “Indirect” insecurity, although less obvious, is arguably more broadly deleterious by debilitating government function and diverting funds, personnel, and equipment from desert locust management. Indirect “active” insecurity is armed conflict and civil unrest that is occurring at the same time as a desert locust episode, but not in the breeding areas. Indirect “inactive” insecurity refers to the after-effects of insecurity, including weak funding because of prior inattention to capacity maintenance during times of direct and indirect active insecurity, disabled or militarily-appropriated vehicles and other resources, destruction of infrastructure, and deployment of mines. We provide examples of direct and indirect insecurity across 35 years, from 1986 through May 2020, in 13 African and Asian countries (Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Western Sahara, and Yemen) with desert locust breeding areas to illustrate the complexity, pervasiveness, and chronic occurrence of insecurity. The upsurge of 2020 is used to show how direct insecurity still contributes to the genesis and expansion of desert locust episodes. Possible mitigation of direct insecurity effects on some desert locust operations is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3755 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evidence for a Causal Relationship between the Solar Cycle and Locust Abundance

by Robert A. Cheke, Stephen Young, Xia Wang, Jamie A. Tratalos, Sanyi Tang and Keith Cressman

Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010069 - 31 Dec 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3889

Abstract

Time series of abundance indices for Desert Locusts Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål 1775) and Oriental Migratory Locusts Locusta migratoriamanilensis (Meyen 1835) were analysed independently and in relation to measures of solar activity and ocean oscillation systems. Data were compiled on the numbers of [...] Read more.

Time series of abundance indices for Desert Locusts Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål 1775) and Oriental Migratory Locusts Locusta migratoriamanilensis (Meyen 1835) were analysed independently and in relation to measures of solar activity and ocean oscillation systems. Data were compiled on the numbers of territories infested with swarms of the Desert Locust from 1860–2015 and an inferred series that compensated for poor reporting in the 1860 to 1925 period. In addition, data for 1930 to 2014, when reports are considered to have been consistently reliable were converted to numbers of 1° grid squares infested with swarms and separated according to four different geographical regions. Spectral analysis to test the hypothesis that there are cycles in the locust dynamics revealed periodicities of 7.5 and 13.5 years for the inferred series that were significant according to the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck state-space (OUSS) test. Similar periodicities were evident in the 1° grid square data and in each of the regions but even though these were significantly different from white noise, they were not significant according to the OUSS criterion. There were no significant peaks in the Oriental Migratory Locust results with the OUSS test, but the data were significantly different from white noise. To test hypotheses that long term trends in the locust dynamics are driven by solar activity and/or oceanic oscillation systems (the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)), the original locust data series and their Kalman-filtered low frequency (LF) components were tested for causality using both spectral coherence tests and convergent cross mapping. Statistically significant evidence was found that solar activity measured by numbers of sunspot groups drive the dynamics, especially the LF components, of both species. In addition, causal links were inferred between both the SOI and NAO data and Desert Locust dynamics. Spectral coherence was also found between sunspot groups and the NAO, the IOD and LF SOI data. The data were also analysed showing that the LF SOI had causal links with the LF inferred Desert Locust series. In addition, the LF NAO was causally linked to the LF 1° grid square data, with the NAO for December-March being most influential. The results suggest that solar activity plays a role in driving locust abundance, but that the mechanisms by which this happens, and whether they are mediated by fluctuations in oceanic systems, is unclear. Furthermore, they offer hope that information on these phenomena might enable a better early warning forecasting of Desert Locust upsurges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adult Desert Locust Swarms, Schistocerca gregaria, Preferentially Roost in the Tallest Plants at Any Given Site in the Sahara Desert

by Koutaro Ould Maeno, Sidi Ould Ely, Sid’Ahmed Ould Mohamed, Mohamed El Hacen Jaavar and Mohamed Abdallahi Ould Babah Ebbe

Agronomy 2020, 10(12), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121923 - 7 Dec 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7904

Abstract

The desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, is a major migratory pest that causes substantial agricultural damage. Flying adult swarms disperse widely during the daytime, but they densely roost on plants at night. Swarm control operations are generally conducted during the daytime, but night-time [...] Read more.

The desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, is a major migratory pest that causes substantial agricultural damage. Flying adult swarms disperse widely during the daytime, but they densely roost on plants at night. Swarm control operations are generally conducted during the daytime, but night-time control is a significant potential alternative. However, the night-roosting behavior of swarms is poorly understood. We determined night-roosting plant preferences of migrating sexually immature swarms of S. gregaria at four different sites in the Sahara Desert in Mauritania during winter. The night-roosting sites were divided into two types based on presence or absence of large trees. Swarms tended to roost on the largest trees and bushes at a given site. Swarms used medium-sized plants when large trees were not locally available, but the same medium-sized plant species were hardly used when large trees were available. Plant choice influenced roosting group size—large locust groups roosted on larger plants. Night-roosting locusts rarely fled from approaching observers. These results suggest that swarms of S. gregaria exhibit plasticity in their utilization patterns of night-roosting plants depending on the plant community encountered and they selectively use larger plants. We propose that this predictable plant-size dependent night-roosting can be used to particularly ease locust swarm control and to generally adopt anti-locust night control strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Linseed Oil Affects Aggregation Behaviour in the Desert Locust Schistocerca gregaria—A Potential Swarm Disruptive Agent

by Zainab Ali Saad Abdelatti and Manfred Hartbauer

Agronomy 2020, 10(10), 1458; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10101458 - 24 Sep 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3026

Abstract

Gregarious desert locusts constitute very destructive agricultural pests. They aggregate and form collectively moving swarms that devastate vegetation and reduce crop production. To combat gregarious locusts, a bio-pesticide formulation that contains linseed oil as the main component was described recently. Since linseed oil [...] Read more.

Gregarious desert locusts constitute very destructive agricultural pests. They aggregate and form collectively moving swarms that devastate vegetation and reduce crop production. To combat gregarious locusts, a bio-pesticide formulation that contains linseed oil as the main component was described recently. Since linseed oil is rich in fatty acids, some of which function as necromones that indicate injury or death in various insect species, we investigated the influence of linseed oil on the aggregation behaviour of sexually mature gregarious desert locusts. For this reason, we performed a series of aggregation experiments with six individuals of the same sex and brushed the wings of one individual (target individual) with linseed oil. The time the oil brushed target males spent close to any other individual was reduced in 76% of trials (average reduction of 18%), whereas the time target females spent in groups with members of the same sex did not alter. These results suggest that linseed oil may act as a bioactive agent that has the potential to disrupt swarm formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

20 pages, 1275 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the South American Locust, Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), and Future Prospects

by Eduardo V. Trumper, Arianne J. Cease, María Marta Cigliano, Fernando Copa Bazán, Carlos E. Lange, Héctor E. Medina, Rick P. Overson, Clara Therville, Martina E. Pocco, Cyril Piou, Gustavo Zagaglia and David Hunter

Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010135 - 6 Jan 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5005

Abstract

In the first half of the twentieth century, the South American Locust (SAL), Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), was a major pest of agriculture in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. From 1954–2014, a preventive management program appeared to limit SAL populations, with only [...] Read more.

In the first half of the twentieth century, the South American Locust (SAL), Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), was a major pest of agriculture in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. From 1954–2014, a preventive management program appeared to limit SAL populations, with only small- to moderate-scale treatments required, limited to outbreak areas in northwest Argentina. However, the lack of major locust outbreaks led to a gradual reduction in resources, and in 2015, the sudden appearance of swarms marked the beginning of a substantial upsurge, with many swarms reported initially in Argentina in 2015, followed by expansion into neighboring countries over the next few years. The upsurge required a rapid allocation of resources for management of SAL and a detailed examination of the improvements needed for the successful management of this species. This paper provides a review of SAL biology, management history, and perspectives on navigating a plague period after a 60-year recession. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 947 KiB

Open AccessReview

Alternative Strategies for Controlling the Brown Locust, Locustana pardalina (Walker)

by Roger Price

Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2212; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112212 - 31 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3529

Abstract

Regular and often intense outbreaks of the brown locust, Locustana pardalina (Walker), in the semi-arid Nama Karoo region of South Africa present a formidable pest control problem. Outbreak patterns over a 64-year period (1941–2005) were reviewed indicating a very high frequency of outbreak [...] Read more.

Regular and often intense outbreaks of the brown locust, Locustana pardalina (Walker), in the semi-arid Nama Karoo region of South Africa present a formidable pest control problem. Outbreak patterns over a 64-year period (1941–2005) were reviewed indicating a very high frequency of outbreak years with regular ‘plague’ periods being experienced, while a more detailed analysis of the numbers of locust targets controlled during a 22-year period (1983–2005) described the intensity and scale of the outbreaks. The operational constraints associated with the traditional ground-based control strategy employed against the thousands of individual roosting brown locust hopper band and swarm targets in the Karoo are discussed. A brief review of laboratory and field trials of alternative methods of controlling the brown locust, such as insecticide baits, barrier treatments and the Green Muscle^® myco-insecticide, as an alternative to broad-spectrum pyrethroid insecticides are described. In addition, alternative control strategies to the current ‘Commando’ system of ground-based control operations are discussed. The recommendation is for a modernised and technology-equipped integrated brown locust management strategy (IPM), combining ground and aerial tactics that will have the flexibility and the capacity to deal effectively with outbreaks. The integrated management strategy should focus on ground-based control of hopper bands and fledgling swarms in the Upper and eastern Karoo, while outbreaks over most of the Central Karoo and arid Bushmanland areas should be left to fledge and coalesce into large-sized swarms that could then be targeted by spray aircraft as they migrate along their known swarm flight paths. The introduction of electronic reporting and GIS mapping technologies for brown locust campaign management is essential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1500 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ecological and Human Diet Value of Locusts in a Changing World

by Gabriella J. Kietzka, Michel Lecoq and Michael J. Samways

Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091856 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6536

Abstract

Since ancient times, locusts have been serious pests wreaking havoc on settled agriculture throughout much of the world. Numerous locust practices have been developed to control infestations. This has led to most commentaries portraying locust infestations only in a negative light while focusing [...] Read more.

Since ancient times, locusts have been serious pests wreaking havoc on settled agriculture throughout much of the world. Numerous locust practices have been developed to control infestations. This has led to most commentaries portraying locust infestations only in a negative light while focusing on finding best management practices for suppressing locust populations and lessening crop damage caused by swarms. Yet, locusts are also of great ecological significance in being not only an extraordinary natural phenomenon but also major components of ecosystem nutrient cycling, arising long before settled agriculture. Furthermore, for humans, locusts are a nutritious food source, historically and currently being consumed directly. Locust control today should more regularly include their harvesting. This is now more feasible, as environmentally friendly biopesticides can be used to replace harmful organic pesticides. We focus here on the ecological significance of locusts by using calculations based on a 1 km² area of swarming and breeding Desert locusts, Schistocerca gregaria, and show that the huge biomass of locust individuals contributes greatly to ecosystem processes while also having great potential use in human nutrition, especially where there is an urgent need for improved dietary intake and nutrition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3449 KiB

Open AccessReview

State of the Art Management of the Central American Locust Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons (Walker, 1870)

by Ludivina Barrientos-Lozano, Hojun Song, Aurora Y. Rocha-Sánchez and Jorge Ariel Torres-Castillo

Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061024 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3439

Abstract

The Central American locust (CAL), Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons (Walker, 1870), is a transboundary pest that is distributed from Mexico to Panama. It is a true locust species characterized by density-dependent phase polyphenism. The ancient record of the CAL is found in the Popol [...] Read more.

The Central American locust (CAL), Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons (Walker, 1870), is a transboundary pest that is distributed from Mexico to Panama. It is a true locust species characterized by density-dependent phase polyphenism. The ancient record of the CAL is found in the Popol Vuh, the Mayan sacred book, demonstrating how it has affected humans for millennia. In Mexico, the CAL have been declared a national threat to agriculture since 1824. Serious locust plagues occurred in 1882–1883 when swarms of 20 km² in size invaded the Yucatán Peninsula and neighboring states in southern Mexico and, since then, management actions to suppress populations and economic damage have been implemented. A better understanding of the biology, ecology, and behavior of the CAL replaced a manual and mechanical collection of locust swarms, hopper bands, and egg pods with modern techniques such as the use of safer chemical products and environmentally friendly bioinsecticides. Presently, biomodels and GIS support the monitoring and forecasting of outbreaks. Currently, studies are conducted to investigate environmental factors that trigger locust gregarization, the evolution of phase polyphenism, and CAL bioactive compounds and nutritional contents, envisioning its potential use in biotechnological industries. Findings will be crucial to improve the management strategies of the CAL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 6355 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Nosema locustae (Protozoa, Microsporidia), a Biological Agent for Locust and Grasshopper Control

by Long Zhang and Michel Lecoq

Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040711 - 8 Apr 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6277

Abstract

Effective locust and grasshopper control is crucial as locust invasions have seriously threatened crops and food security since ancient times. However, the preponderance of chemical insecticides, effective and widely used today, is increasingly criticized as a result of their adverse effects on human [...] Read more.

Effective locust and grasshopper control is crucial as locust invasions have seriously threatened crops and food security since ancient times. However, the preponderance of chemical insecticides, effective and widely used today, is increasingly criticized as a result of their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Alternative biological control methods are being actively sought to replace chemical pesticides. Nosema locustae (Synonyms: Paranosema locustae, Antonospora locustae), a protozoan pathogen of locusts and grasshoppers, was developed as a biological control agent as early as the 1980s. Subsequently, numerous studies have focused on its pathogenicity, host spectrum, mass production, epizootiology, applications, genomics, and molecular biology. Aspects of recent advances in N. locustae show that this entomopathogen plays a special role in locust and grasshopper management because it is safer, has a broad host spectrum of 144 orthopteran species, vertical transmission to offspring through eggs, long persistence in locust and grasshopper populations for more than 10 years, and is well adapted to various types of ecosystems in tropical and temperate regions. However, some limitations still need to be overcome for more efficient locust and grasshopper management in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2570 KiB

Open AccessReview

Locust and Grasshopper Outbreaks in the Near East: Review under Global Warming Context

by Battal Çiplak

Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010111 - 8 Jan 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4371

Abstract

Plagues of locust possibly date back to before humanity, as they evolved before humans. Following the Neolithic revolution and the permanent settlement of humans in Mesopotamia, locusts and grasshoppers have become a serious problem for people, as imprinted on archaeological remains. In the [...] Read more.

Plagues of locust possibly date back to before humanity, as they evolved before humans. Following the Neolithic revolution and the permanent settlement of humans in Mesopotamia, locusts and grasshoppers have become a serious problem for people, as imprinted on archaeological remains. In the Near East, desert locust may be an important problem during invasion periods, in addition to various local species of locusts and grasshoppers. Past plagues caused serious disasters in the region, but there has been a pause since the 1960s, thanks to more effective monitoring and control. However, global warming and other anthropogenic activities change ecosystems, and these increase the potential for locust outbreaks, upsurges and plagues for the region. Outbreaks of some local species could also be a serious problem. Pest species of the locust and grasshopper of the Near East mainly belong to Caelifera and some to Ensifera. Global warming and extended agricultural activities can increase the potential for outbreaks of local species and create suitable conditions for desert locust invasions. This review is an attempt to (i) provide a historical background for locust invasions/outbreaks in the Near East, (ii) assess the potential for outbreaking of local species and (iii) define a perspective for future actions regarding global changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

How to Manage Migratory Pests and Potential Food Crises: Locusts Plagues in the 2020’s

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (22 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI