Prospects for Biological Control of the Red Locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Abstract

Prospects for the biological control of locusts and grasshoppers have become much brighter during the last ten years thanks to a number of international research projects. This paper examines a number of options, including one that is ready for immediate implementation: the mycoinsecticide, Green Muscle®, based on the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (flavoviride) var. acridum. It has been registered in South Africa and other African countries are likely to follow during 1999. Trial results on grasshoppers and several locust species have been very encouraging, and preliminary tests on red locusts show potential as well. Recent research on pheromones also points to some interesting possibilities, both when used alone and in combination with a mycoinsecticide. Finally, microsporidian protozoans and rhabditid nematodes show some promise for long-term suppression of red locust populations, but more research and development is needed to demonstrate their potential.Resume-Les perspectives de lutte biologique contre les criquets et les sauterelles sont devenues plus evidentes au cours des dix annees passees grace a l'existence d'une serie de projets internationaux de recherche. Cet article examine un certain nombre d'options de lutte dont Tune s'apprete deja a rutilisation. II s'agit de l'emploi du Green Muscle®, un myco-insecticide a base du champignon Metarhizium anisopliae (flavoviridae) var. acridum. Le produit a ete enregistre en Afrique du Sud et d'autres pays africains vont probablement suivre en 1999. Les essais du produit sur les especes de criquets et plusieurs sauterelles ont donne des resultats tres encourageants. De meme, les essais preliminaires sur le criquet rouge ont ete prometteurs. Des recherches recentes sur les pheromones font etat des possibilites d'utilisation de ceux-ci soit isolement ou en combinaison avec un mycoinsecticide. Enfin, les protozoaires microsporidies et les nematodes rhabditides ont montre quelques potentialites dans la suppression a long terme, des populations du criquet rouge. Cependant une recherche et developpement plus pousses restent necessaires pour mettre ces potentialites en evidence.Mots Cle's: Nomadacris septemfasciata, criquet rouge, lutte biologique, ennemis naturels, mycoinsecticide, Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, champignon entomopathogene c

Life Cycle, Reproductive Maturation, and Wing Color Changes inNomadacris septemfasciata(Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Madagascar

“…During the last 10 d of January and the beginning of February, the only adults found were individuals from the previous generation. Some had torn wings and were bearing Eutrombidium mites (Kooyman 1999). In such cases, it was difÞcult to determine the wing color, so these old adults were excluded from the analysis.…”