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A Locust Plague in the Making: Upsurges of the Red Locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville) in Buzi-Gorongosa Outbreak Area, Mozambique in 1996

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

John W. Bahana  and
Abilio K. Ngazero
John W. Bahana
Affiliation:
International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa, P. O. Box 240252, Ndola, Zambia
Abilio K. Ngazero
Affiliation:
International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa, P. O. Box 240252, Ndola, Zambia
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Abstract

In 1996, many swarms of red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville), formed in the Buzi-Gorongosa outbreak area in Mozambique. Some of these swarms migrated and crossed international boundaries, on a scale not seen since the last plague of 1929–1944.

The swarms did not breed in countries that they invaded, namely, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. On the other hand, in Malawi, successful breeding by the swarms resulted in hopper bands. Filial generation outbreaks continued into 1997 in the breeding area, but at a reduced scale.

An analysis is made of the possible causes of the upsurges of 1996 and the likely implications to the preventive control strategy that has been the principle for red locust plague prevention.

There is need for a further comprehensive study of the Buzi-Gorongosa plains so as to understand better the factors that contribute to its high potential as an outbreak area.

Résumé

En 1996, plusieurs essaims du criquet rouge, Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville) se sont formés à partir des foyers de reproduction grégarigène Buzi-Gorongosa (Mozambique). Certains de ces essaims ont migré et franchi les frontières internationales à une envergure non jamais connue depuis le dernier fléau de 1929–1944. Ces essaims ne se sont jamais reproduits dans les régions envahies telles que la Zambie, le Botswana et l'Afrique du Sud. Par contre, au Malawi, les essaims se sont bien reproduits donnant lieu à la formation des bandes de criquets. Les éclosions des générations filles issues des essaims ont continué en 1997 dans les foyers primaires de reproduction, mais à une moindre échelle. Des causes possibles ayant régi les recrudescences du criquet en 1996 et l'impact de la stratégie de lutte préventive ayant servi de principe de base pour prévenir les fléaux du criquet rouge sont analysés. Il s'avère nécessaire de procéder à une étude approfondie des plaines de Buzi-Gorongosa pour mieux déceler les facteurs contribuât à leur prédisposition à constituer un foyer de reproduction grégarigène.

Keywords

criquet rougeNomadacris septemfasciatafoyers de reproduction grégarigèneBuzi-Gorongosaessaimspontemigrationfléaured locustNomadacris septemfasciataoutbreak areasBuzi-Gorongosaswarmsovipositionmigrationplague
Type
Research and Review Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , December 1999 , pp. 291 - 300
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1999

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References

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