Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:52:11.756Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The ecology and control of the red locust (Nomadacris septemfasciata Serv.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

M. E. A. Materu
Affiliation:
International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa, Mbala, Zambia
Get access

Abstract

The ecology of the red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata Serv. in its outbreak areas plays an important part in the survival of all its developmental stages. Some of the important ecological factors affecting the multiplication and formation of red locust swarms are described briefly. Different methods of controlling the red locust are discussed including ecological, biological and chemical methods. It is concluded that the various control methods play some part in regulating the locust population but at present, when the populations are high, only the chemical method is capable of reducing the population to acceptable levels. The ‘preventive control’ now used to control the red locust is effective and takes advantage of the biology and the ecology of the red locust in the outbreak areas.

Type
Mini-Review Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Backlund, H. O. (1955) Red locust and vegetation. Oikos. 6, 124148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bredo, H. J. (1947) Report on the control measures and their organisation against the red locust in the outbreak centres, Mweru-wa-Ntipa and Rtukwa since 1938. IRLCS, Abercorri, 60 pp.Google Scholar
Chapman, R. F. (1962) Ceracia nomadacris Van Emden (Diptera, Tachinidae) parasitising Nomadacris septemfasciata, Serv. (Orthoptera, Acrididae). Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond.(A) 37, 6971.Google Scholar
Clark, L. R. (1947) An ecological study of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera Walk. in the Bogan-Macquaire outbreak area, N.S. Wales. C.S.I.R. Bull. Melbourne. 226, 71pp.Google Scholar
Dean, G. J. W. (1964) Stork and egret as predators of the red locust in the Rukwa Valley outbreak areas. Ostrich. 35, 95100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Du Plessis, C. (1962) Ann. Rep. Director. IRLCS, Mbala. 59 pp.Google Scholar
Gunn, D. L. (1956) A history of Lake Rukwa and the red locust. Tanganyika Notes. 42, 118.Google Scholar
Gunn, D. L., Lea, H., Botha, D. H., Callaway, S., Clarkson, J. R., Immelman, A., Taljaard, J. J. and Ward, J. (1948) Locust Control by Aircraft in Tanganyika. IRLCS Annual Report 1948, Abercorn, 153pp.Google Scholar
MacMartin, A. (1935) The South-African locust fungus. Publ. S. Afr. Sugar Assoc.Google Scholar
Malujlo, T. (1961) Aerial control of red locusts in Central Africa. Agric. Aviat. 3, 121125.Google Scholar
Michelmore, A. P. G. and Allan, W. (1934) Observations on phases of the red locust in Northern Rhodesia. Bull. ent. Res. 25, 101128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertson, I. A. D. (1958) Tree planting trials for the control of the red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata Serv., in the Rukwa Valley, Tanganyika. E. Afr. agric. J. 23, 172178.Google Scholar
Schaffer, E. E. (1936) The white fungus disease, Beauveria bassiana, among red locusts in South Africa and some observations on the green fungus disease (Empusa grylli). Sci. Bull. Dep. Agric. S. Afr. 160, 28.Google Scholar
Stotenbeker, C. W. (1967) Observations on the population dynamics of the red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville) in its outbreak areas. Agr. Res. Rep. 694, Wageningen, 118.Google Scholar
Vesey-Fitzgerald, D. F. (1955) Birds as predators of the red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville). Ostrich. 26, 128133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vesey-Fitzgerald, D. F. (1964) Ecology of the red locust. Monographiae Biologicae. 24, 255268.Google Scholar