Locust and Biocontrol - managing pests with green products

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Efficacy of a biopesticide

Locusts and grasshoppers are an agricultural pest that are sprayed regularly with chemical pesticides. Although a biopesticide based fungal pathogen of locust and grasshoppers exists as a green alternative, it does not always appear to work. In some locations the biopesticide works really well killing locusts and grasshoppers quickly, while in other locations it takes longer or appears not to work. Understanding the thermal preferences of these living organisms and how they interact is vital for the uptake and use of these green pesticides.

Interested in learning more about how a biopesticide can be used in the field for pest management by investigating the spatial and temporal efficacy of a biocontrol agent? Watch the video and listen to the podcast below

Locusts, biopesticide & GIS

The video, part of a series "Tackling Global Challenges with GIS," presents research on a biopesticide and how it can be used for controlling agricultural pests such as locusts. A Geographic Information System (GIS) framework is used to assess the geographical variability of a biopesticide's effectiveness against different species of locusts and grasshoppers. A model for predicting fungal pathogen virulence against pests, specifically based on host body temperature and environmental conditions, was used with meteorological station data to create spatial maps of expected mortality. The study focused on economically important pest species across Spain, South Africa, Zambia, and Niger. Spatial variation in the performance of the model was clearly visible. Although the model outputs were largely consistent with field trial data for most species, the variability highlights the importance of temperature context for both effective pest control strategies and understanding fundamental insect-pathogen ecology.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) framework is used to assess the geographical variability of a biopesticide's effectiveness against different species of locusts and grasshoppers. A model for predicting fungal pathogen virulence against pests, specifically based on host body temperature and environmental conditions, was used with meteorological station data to create spatial maps of expected mortality. The study focused on economically important pest species across Spain, South Africa, Zambia, and Niger. Spatial variation in the performance of the model was clearly visible. Although the model outputs were largely consistent with field trial data for most species, the variability highlights the importance of temperature context for both effective pest control strategies and understanding fundamental insect-pathogen ecology.

Sources:

Klass, J.I., Blanford S., & Thomas M.B. (2007) Development of a model for evaluating the effects of environmental temperature and thermal behaviour on biological control of locusts and grasshoppers using pathogens. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 9(3): 189-199.
Klass, J.I., Blanford S., & Thomas M.B. (2007) Use of a geographic information system to explore spatial variation in pathogen virulence and the implications for biological control of locusts and grasshoppers. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 9(3): 201-208.
Klass, J.I., Thomas, M. B. & Blanford, S. (2002) GIS solves locust control? In proceedings of the 22nd Annual ESRI International User Conference. San Diego, USA. July 8-12, 2002.
Blanford, S. & Klass, J.I, (2004) Review of environmental effects on the performance of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum against the Desert locust under field conditions. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Technical Series Report. Pp.150+
Thomas, M. B., Klass, J.I. & Blanford, S. (2000) The Year of the Locust. Pesticide Outlook. 11: 192-195.

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