Journal of Orthoptera Research (2017) 26, 155-159

Selected publication you are invited to contribute to the discussion section (above tab)

Long Zhang and David Hunter (2017)
Management of locusts and grasshoppers in China
Journal of Orthoptera Research 26 (2), 155-159
Abstract: Locusts and grasshoppers are major economic pests in China and are controlled by a strategy of preventive management where about 1.5 million ha are treated each year. The preventive management system aims to keep locusts and grasshoppers at lower densities, so that the dense swarms seen in the past are no longer common and crop and pasture damage minimized. There is substantial cultural control, including conservation of natural enemies and reducing the area of favorable habitats through habitat modification. Even with substantial cultural control, locust and grasshopper infestations are still widespread, with 127 field stations having more than 2000 technicians involved in monitoring and control. These officers monitor and treat locust and grasshopper infestations and the data collected are integrated into a national computer-based platform. These data are analyzed and news bulletins are issued on where and when the densest infestations are likely to be so that extra resources can be provided when needed as part of coordinating an effective locust and grasshopper management program. In the past, treatments were by chemical pesticides, but in recent years there has been an increasing use of bio pesticides: namely, the naturally occurring fungus Metarhizium acridum and the microsporidian Paranosema locustae. While such products were used in only 5% of treatments during 2004, their use has increased to over 30% in recent years, which amounts to over 100,000 ha per year sprayed. These applications of bio pesticides against locusts and grasshoppers are more than all of the rest of the world combined.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
Full text of article

Database assignments for author(s): David M. Hunter, Long Zhang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
review

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Locusta migratoria		China (NW)
	Oedaleus asiaticus		China (NE)
Paranosema locustae (entomopathogen)	Locusta migratoria		China (NW)
Metarhizium acridum (entomopathogen)	Locusta migratoria		China (NW)