Abstract
This paper describes briefly four different locust species that constitute potential widespread danger to agriculture and pasture in the eastern, central and southern Africa region. Particular reference is made to the red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata Serville which mostly feeds on monocotyledonous plants. Reference is also made to the African migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides R&F; the brown locust, Locustana pardalina Walker; and the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forskal. There were frequent reports of damage to cereal crops by the red locust during the most recent plague of the 1930’s. However, since that time only a few yield loss data are available owing, primarily, to the fact that locust infestations have mostly been irregular and confined within their natural breeding areas, away from crop land. The paper provides general background information that should enable evaluation of locust incidence in the region and assessment of consequent cereal crop production losses.
Résumé
Cette publication donne un bref apercu de 4 espèces differentes de criquets qui constituent un danger potentiel repandu à l’agriculture et au paturage à l’Est, au Centre et au Sud africain. Une reférence particulière a èté faite sur les criquets migrateurs rouges, Nomadacris septemfasciata Serville qui se nourrissent principalement des plantes à monocotyledons. Une reférence a èté aussi faite sur le criquet migrateur africain, Locusta migratoria migratorioides R&F; le criquet migrateur brun, Locustana pardilana Walker; et le criquet du desert, Schistocerca gregaria Forskal. Il y a des rapports frequents sur l’un des plus recent fléau dans les années 30 des dommages causés par les criquets migrateurs rouges sur les cerèales. Depuis cette date il y a quelles que données sur les pertes des récoltes du à l’infestation des criquets. Ceci est le resultat de l’irrègularité de l’infestation et à la reproduction des criquets dans leur zones de reproduction naturelles très loin de zone de culture. Cette note donne une information genérale de fond qui devrait servir pour evaleur l’incidence des criquets dans la region et les consequences des pertes cerealières.
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Musuna, A.C.Z. Cereal Crop Losses Caused by Locusts in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Region. Int J Trop Insect Sci 9, 701–707 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400005579
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400005579
Key Words
- Locusts
- cereals
- yield loss
- Nomadacris septemfasciata
- Locusta migratoria migratorioides
- Locustana pardalina
- Schistocerca gregaria