POTENTIAL INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AGAINST DESERT LOCUSTS (SCHISTOCERCA GREGARIA) IN NEPAL: A MINI REVIEW

Abstract

Desert locust (Schistocera gregaria) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) is an aggressive and voracious swarming grasshopper, a migratory pest that feeds on almost every vegetation on its way. In Nepal first desert locust incidence was reported in 1962 and major crop damage was reported in 1996. After 24 years, Desert locust was again reported on 27th June 2020 from Bara, Sarlahi, Parsa, and Rupendehi districts of Nepal. Until now, out of 77 districts, the incidence of locust has been reported from 55 districts and that had destroyed different crops in about 1118 hectares of land. This review highlights the biology of the pest species Schistocera gregaria and appropriate management practices and approaches that Nepalese farmers can afford and adapt. Mechanical measures like making a loud noise, generating smokes and fumes, digging trenches, net trapping could be done to control and monitor the pest for small scale farmers. Use of Nosema locustae, and combination of Paranosema locustae and Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum were found as the best biological control agents. Neem, linseed oil, Allium cepa oil are effective botanicals whereas Malathion, chlorpyrifos, lamdacyhalothrin, and deltamethrin are effective chemical pesticides available now. The overall integration of mechanical, biopesticides, biological, chemical methods is the best combination of methods to reduce the impact of pest.

Keywords

• metarhizium anisophilae var. acridum
• nosema locustae
• paranosema locustae
• schistocera gregaria
• traditional control methods;