POTENTIAL OF MICROORGANISMS FOR LOCUST AND GRASSHOPPER CONTROL

Entomopathogens have been isolated and developed for the control of various lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, hymenopteran, homopteran, and even acarine pests. Among the orthopteran pests, the acridid defoliators are important in Africa, and the periodic outbreaks of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria; red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata; migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides and brown locust, Locustana pardalina; as well as numerous grasshoppers, cause extensive crop losses. Laboratory and field tests carried out on control of locusts and grasshoppers using microorganisms have shown that there are key candidates which could be used for the management of these acridid pests.