Locusta migratoria migratorioides - African Migratory Locust

Locusta migratoria migratorioides (Reiche & Fairmaire)


Common name:	African Migratory Locust
Ethiopian name:	Ye Africa Tezamatch Anbeta

Order:	Orthoptera
Family:	Acrididae

HOSTS:
Main hosts:	Polyphagous with some preference for Gramineae

IMPORTANCE IN ETHIOPIA:
Minor pest of:	Barley, Wheat

DAMAGE:
	Both the nymphs and adults are feeding on the leaves. Solitary forms do not cause much damage, but swarms can completely defoliate crops.

INSECT BIOLOGY & RECOGNITION:
Egg:	The eggs are laid in pods in the ground. Gregarious females produce about 40 eggs per pod, while in solitary locusts a pod contains about 65 eggs. Depending on temperature they hatch after 10-40 days.
Nymph:	The nymphs, which are called hoppers, resemble the adult insects but they do not have wings. The nymphal stage (5 instars) takes 30-60 days. Locusta migratoria migratorioides. Nymph 5th instar, length 36 mm.
Adult:	The adults are slightly smaller than Schistocerca gregaria (= Desert Locust). Males are 35-40 mm, females are 40-50 mm long. The colour is pale yellowish. The forewings are translucent with many brown spots. The under surface of the thorax is covered with fine hairs. There is no peg-like process between the fore legs (compare with S. gregaria). Locusta migratoria migratorioides. Adult locust, length 45 mm. Locusta migratoria migratorioides. Adult without peg-like structure between the forelegs.

Text adapted from:

INSECT PESTS OF CEREALS IN ETHIOPIA identification and control methods by Hein Bijlmakers, FAO/UNDP Project ETH/86/029 Crop Protection Phase II, Addis Ababa, October 1989