Development of a flushing technique for estimating population density of black field cricket,Teleogryllus commodus(Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Adoption by Northland farmers of a pest management package to control black field cricket,Teleogryllus commodus(Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

“…The first step of the extension campaign was to convince Farm Advisory Officers of the importance of cricket control and to bring them up to date with recent research findings such as the 'flushing technique' and the widespread damage which occurred in 1982 (Blank et al 1982). Advisers from the Northland and Auckland regions attended a seminar entitled: "How best to apply research findings on cricket damage and control to the farmer", held in November 1982.…”

“…An Aglink pamphlet detailing the flushing technique and cricket control strategies (Blank 1983) was distributed to approximately 2500 dairy farmers by means of dairy company newsletters.…”

“…Previous and on-going research had quantified pasture damage, and had developed baiting strategies most appropriate for preventing damage by clarifying the relevant aspects of the biology of this insect (Blank 1982a(Blank , 1982bBlank et al 1983). The combination of these advances with the new population assessment technique enabled the development of a pest management package for use by farmers for the control of the black field cricket (Blank 1983). This paper describes the extension and adoption of this pest management package in ~o r t h l a n d in the 1983 season.…”

Insecticide baits for control of the black field cricket (Teleogryllus commodus)

“…Cricket density was measured using the flushing technique of Blank (1983) and Blank & Bell (1983). A selected cracked area within a 0.25 m?…”

“…The synthetic pyrethroid insecticides have very low mammalian and avian toxicity, and in contact tests, are toxic at low doses to crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts (McKinlay & Burrage 1977;Harris & Turnbull 1978;Bindra 1979). Cypermethrin at low concentrations was toxic to black field crickets when used to flush crickets from cracks (Blank & Bell 1983). Cypermethrin as an aqueous spray was effective at controlling grasshoppers but when incorporated in a bran bait was not completely effective (Mukerji & Ewen 1984).…”