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The Pest Status of Zonocerus Elegans (Thunberg) (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) in Kilosa District in Tanzania with some Suggestions on Control Strategies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Brigitte T. Nyambo
Brigitte T. Nyambo
Affiliation:
Entomologist, Taro Ilonga, P. O. Box Kilosa, Tanzania
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Abstract

The elegant grasshopper, Zonocerus elegans Thunberg, occurs in large numbers in Kilosa district during the dry season June to January and attacks a wide range of wild and crop plants. Its impact as a pest of crop plants becomes more noticeable from the middle of the dry season when the hoppers are well advanced and the only alternative food available are vegetables in backyard gardens and river valleys. The grasshopper damage continues throughout the vuli (short) rains until the end of the oviposition period in January, thus limiting the production of green vegetables in the district. A study on the biology and ecology of the pest in Kilosa district with emphasis on short term control strategies was started in 1987. Spot spraying with insecticides to kill the early instars was found to be effective, but area-wide implementation was necessary to prevent re-invasion of cleared areas.

Résumé

Le criquet, Zonocerus elegans (Thunberg), apparaît en grand nombre chaque année pendant la saison sèche (de juin en janvier) dans le district de Kilosa. La gamme de plante-hôtes très large, comprend les plantes cultivées ainsi que la végétation sauvage. Les dégâts causés par cet insecte deviennent évidents au milieu de la saison sèche lorsque les criquets sont en pleine croissance et que le seule source de nourriture disponible étant les potagers à l'arrière-cour des maisons et le long des vallées des rivières. Les dégâts continuent pendant la petite saison des pluies jusqu'au mois de janvier lorsque l'oviposition s'arrête, limitant ainsi la production des légumes verts dans la région. C'est pourquoi une étude sjr la biologie et l'écologie de ce ravageur dans le district de Kilosa a débuté en 1987 en vue de trouver une stratégie de lutte à court terme. Le traitement insecticide s'est avéré efficace sur lesjeunes larves; mais pour prévenir les réinfestations des criquets, il est nécessaire de traiter de grandes surfaces.

Keywords

Zonocerus elegansbiologyelegant grasshopper pestecologycontrol strategiesZonocerus elegansbiologiecriquet écologiestratégies de lutte
Type
Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 12 , Issue 1-2-3: Current Topics in Tropical Entomology , June 1991 , pp. 231 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1991

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References

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