An understanding of the role factors intrinsic to a species' life history in structuring contemporary genetic variation is fundamental, but understudied, aspect evolutionary biology. Here, we assessed influence propensity outbreak shaping worldwide Locusta migratoria, cosmopolitan pest well known for its expression density-dependent phase polyphenism. We scored 14 microsatellites nine subspecies from 25 populations distributed over most range regions that vary historical frequency and extent...

Abstract The desert locust is an agricultural pest that able to switch from a harmless solitarious stage, during recession periods, swarms of gregarious individuals disperse long distances and affect areas western Africa India outbreak periods. Large outbreaks have been recorded through centuries, the Food Agriculture Organization keeps long‐term, large‐scale monitoring survey database in area. However, there also much less known subspecies occupies limited area Southern Africa. We used...

1Department of Renewable Resources, University Wyoming, 1000 E. Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA 2School Biological Sciences, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 3Department Entomology, Faculty Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Heep Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842-2475, 4Department General Biology Ecology, Novosibirsk State 2 Pirogova Street, 630090, Russia 5Laboratory Insect Institute Systematics Animals, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy 11 Frunze 630091, 6Division...

The desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), a major Old World pest, is associated with agricultural losses and undesirable societal effects. There are three broad approaches to its control: reaction, proaction, outbreak prevention. Reaction protects crops from swarms but it costly disruptive. Proaction involves early intervention during outbreaks avert further development plague status; in current use because effective, relatively inexpensive, the best...

Locust outbreaks have long been a very serious problem for agriculture and livelihoods in many countries globally. This article is an introduction to Special Issue of the journal Agronomy devoted management these pests. Although not exhaustive, nineteen articles herein cover variety species, regions world aspects pest locust research early 21st century. book source information reflection, as well resource, support new areas investigation practice contributing process developing sustainable...

Locust control in Africa has been the focus of considerable controversy over last 15 y. Many aspects were called into question following large plagues 1987–88 (Desert Locust) and 1996–2000 (Malagasy Migratory Locust): recommended preventative strategy, environmental impact insecticides used, socioeconomic importance locusts. projects launched to improve survey methods find alternative solutions chemical pesticide treatments. Recent progress is reviewed. Survey application techniques showed...

The potential effect of population outbreaks on within and between genetic variation populations in pest species has rarely been assessed. In this study, we compare patterns different sets historically frequently outbreaking an agricultural major importance, the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. We analyse 24 at 14 microsatellites Western Europe, where only ancient low-intensity have reported (non-outbreaking populations), Madagascar Northern China, frequent intense outbreak events...

Effective locust and grasshopper control is crucial as invasions have seriously threatened crops food security since ancient times. However, the preponderance of chemical insecticides, effective widely used today, increasingly criticized a result their adverse effects on human health environment. Alternative biological methods are being actively sought to replace pesticides. Nosema locustae (Synonyms: Paranosema locustae, Antonospora locustae), protozoan pathogen locusts grasshoppers, was...

Plague locusts are a major problem in many developing countries. For the desert locust, control by preventive strategy proved effective, and led to dramatic decrease outbreak frequency duration over last 40 y. Principal problems now of an organizational nature. Natural-risk management plans for locust outbreaks, associated with new financial mechanisms, must be implemented order ensure early reaction, efficiency sustainability approach. Studies these outbreaks should based on ecological...

Abstract BACKGROUND Preventive management of locust plagues works in some cases but still fails frequently. The role funding institution awareness was suggested as a potential facilitating factor for cyclic plagues. We designed multi‐agent system to represent the events plague development and with three levels: institution, national control unit field teams. A sensitivity analysis identified limits improvements system. RESULTS model generated through decrease awareness. could improve its...

Abstract The desert locust, S chistocerca gregaria ( F orskål) O rthoptera: A crididae), is a major pest and well known in its gregarious phase. However, it not understood during recession periods, when the solitarious phase populations are discrete. Nonetheless, these at origin of invasions ecological conditions become favourable. This lack knowledge individuals impedes effective preventive management this pest. Archive data collected Algeria from 1980 to 2011 were used analyse population...

Understanding Desert Locust population dynamics is a prerequisite for the implementation of preventive management strategy against its invasions. The present study aims to describe these through conducting probability analyses locust presence in time and space. Historical data from field surveys conducted by teams Mauritania Morocco period 1988–2015 were used. Temporal smoothing spatio-temporal extrapolations performed on monthly basis. We established maps observation following two...

Despite many areas of progress in recent years, desert locust surveillance and control is impaired by obstacles, the most intractable which insecurity. Insecurity involves rebellions, insurgencies, civil international war, banditry, terrorism, minefields. Obstruction operations breeding ongoing armed conflict landmines constitutes “direct” “Indirect” insecurity, although less obvious, arguably more broadly deleterious debilitating government function diverting funds, personnel, equipment...

The recent upsurge of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål, 1775) has had an impact on East Africa and Middle as far India. It affected slowed down many aspects Pakistani economy. Swarms locusts have infested areas caused immense damage to all types crops. Both farmers economists are concerned trying get most up-to-date information best strategy manage this pest. This paper is attempt (i) provide insight into dynamics internationally well in various regions Pakistan, (ii) briefly...

The Monte Gordo Grasshopper Eyprepocprifas insularis , considered extinct, was rediscovered on the island of São Nicolau, Cape Verde, in 2023. This unique brachypterous grasshopper is a “living fossil” endemic to archipelago. paper provides updated taxonomic information, describes female for first time, examines habitat characteristics and impact human activity, proposes an IUCN Red List status. study emphasizes need further research this resilient yet threatened species.

Abstract Following the droughts that occurred in Sahel during 1970s, Senegalese grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss 1877) suddenly became main pest species this region, where it regularly causes serious damage to crops, especially millet. The lifecycle of O. reflects precariousness Sahelian environment. and survival strategies have evolved include migration following shifts intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) embryonic diapause dry season. It is thus able cope with its natural...

Abstract Between plagues, the solitarious desert locust ( Schistocerca gregaria ) is generally thought to exist as small populations, which are particularly prone extinction events in arid regions of Africa and Asia. Given high genetic structuring observed one geographical area (the Eritrean coast) by former authors, a metapopulation dynamics model involving repeated colonization was favoured. In this study, we assessed validity demographic scenario temporary populations phase analysing...

Abstract BACKGROUND The spatial structure of locust outbreaks is a major aspect preventive management that relies on where survey teams have to be sent if they are react in time any upsurge. concentration areas propitious has been documented for many species. Areas fails collect information because insecurity or remoteness constitute other limits. We explored these conditions using spatially explicit multi‐agent model representing system. simulated field had limited no access and the...

Since ancient times, locusts have been serious pests wreaking havoc on settled agriculture throughout much of the world. Numerous locust practices developed to control infestations. This has led most commentaries portraying infestations only in a negative light while focusing finding best management for suppressing populations and lessening crop damage caused by swarms. Yet, are also great ecological significance being not an extraordinary natural phenomenon but major components ecosystem...