EFFICIENCY OF THREE NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR CONTROLING DESERT LOCUST, SCHISTOCERCA GREGARIA (FORSK.) (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE

M. K, Ali,; M. Z, Sedik,; A. H, Hosny,; Rada, W. M, EL Atreby,

doi:10.21608/jes.2017.19796

EFFICIENCY OF THREE NATURAL PRODUCTS FOR CONTROLING DESERT LOCUST, SCHISTOCERCA GREGARIA (FORSK.) (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Dept. of Plant Disease, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University

² Dept. of Plant Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University

³ General Dept. for Locust and Agro-aviation Affairs, Ministry of agriculture.

⁴ Institute of Environmental studies and Research, Ain Shams University

10.21608/jes.2017.19796

Abstract

Desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria is serious agricultural pest that cause considerable damage to food crops and pasture grasses, particularly during outbreaks.
In this study, laboratory trials and field trials were carried out at different periods in some places in Egypt considered as favorable breeding sites to test its efficacy on the target pests under the Egyptian Agro-Ecosystem to evaluate the performance of three natural products as bio-insecticides, actinomycetes-bacteria, Saccharopolyspora spinosa (Spinosad, Tracer 24%SC), fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridium (Green Muscle), and Bacillus thuringiensis-bacteria (Protecto 9.4%WP).
Results of laboratory trials revealed that, actinomycetes (Spinosad, Tracer 24%SC) was successful as bio-agent to control both locusts and grasshoppers. Also, fungus M. anisopliae var. acridium (Green Muscle) is promising for locust and grasshoppers control. While the obtained results demonstrated B. thuringiensis (Protecto 9.4%WP) was not effective on the desert locust, S. gregaria or the grasshoppers.
In the field, (Spinosad, Tracer 24%SC) at concentration of 65ml/100L caused 75% mortality among S. gregaria nymphs after 24hr., reached its maximum effect (100%) mortality after 48hr. under the Egyptian conditions, while fungus M. anisopliae var. acridium (Green Muscle®) was very slow acting as a bio-control agent when applied against S. gregaria and some acridid pests, but it was safe to non-target organisms and mammals. 50g/ha dose (diluted in diesel) resulted in an optimal mortality of locusts during 21 days, followed by 50g/ha dose (diluted in vegetable oil), respectively.

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