Acrida (1977) 6, 249-260

L. Chambille (1977)
Comportement de forage des femelles de Locusta migratoria migratorioides (R. and F.) en milieux humide et sec
[The preoviposition digging behaviour of Locusta migratoria migratorioides (R. and F.) females in moist and dry soils]
Acrida 6, 249-260
Abstract: The pre-oviposition digging behaviour exhibited by Locusta migratoria migratorioides females at the time of their first three layings is studied both in moist and in dry soils.
In moist soil, very few trial diggings occur before laying; the bores are shallow, being less than 3 cm deep (approximate length of the elongated female abdomen when embedded in the soil). Deep boring (> 3 cm) is almost invariably followed by the deposition of an egg-pod; the elongation of the abdomen may provide the required stimulus for egg-laying.
In dry soil, trial digging is much more frequent and the average depth of the holes is significantly greater, due to the increased number of deep (> 3 cm) rejected pits.
Once the females have laid a first pod in dry or in moist soil, the depth of the pre-oviposition bores in dry soil is increased. This could be due to psychophysiological learning.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: French)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Locusta migratoria