Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-r6qrq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T00:43:35.364Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Destruction of eggs as an alternative to chemical control of the grasshopper pest Zonocerus variegatus (L.) (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) in Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

W. W. Page
W. W. Page
Affiliation:
Centre for Overseas Pest Research, College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Zonocerus variegatus (L.) is a chronic but relatively minor pest of crops in West Africa, and expensive control measures are not generally warranted. Egg pods, which take approximately six months to develop, are deposited in highly aggregated sites found scattered throughout cultivated areas. To test the feasibility of reducing populations in large areas by digging up the egg pods, two areas, of 18·5 and 20 ha, were selected near Ibadan, Nigeria, for investigation. Egg-laying sites were identified by observation and the egg pods subsequently dug up. There were on average one or two sites, 5·7 m2 in area, per hectare. Counting the following season's hatching populations in the two areas showed that the potential hatches had been reduced by 83 and 91%, respectively. Control by community self-help is suggested, where individual farmers identify and dig up laying sites on their own land, exposing the egg pods to desiccation on the soil surface. If this was carried out by all the farmers in an area, populations of Zonocerus could be reduced and crop damage minimised. Such control can be carried out at little or no cost and with very little labour.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 68 , Issue 4 , December 1978 , pp. 575 - 581
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barker, D., Oguntoyinbo, J.&Richards, P. (1977). The utility of the Nigerian Peasant farmer's knowledge in the monitoring of agricultural resources. A general report.—55 pp. London, Monitoring and Assessment Research Centre of Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment, International Council of Scientific Unions. (MARC Report No. 4.)Google Scholar
Doku, E. V. (1969). Cassava in Ghana. —44 pp. Accra, Ghana University Press.Google Scholar
Golding, F. D. (1948).The Acrididae (Orthoptera) Of Nigeria.—Trans. R. ent. Soc.Lond. 99,517–587.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jerath, M. L. (1965). Note on the biology of zonocerus variegatus (Linnaeus) from eastern Nigeria. —Revue Zool. Bot. afr. 72, 243–251.Google Scholar
Kaufmann, T. (1965). Observations on aggregation, migration, and feeding habits of Zonocerus variegatus in Ghana (Orthoptera: Acrididae).—Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 58, 426–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MaynÉ, R. (1923). principaux ennemis du caféiers au Congo belge.—Annls Gembloux 29, 377–384.Google Scholar
Ministry For Overseas Development (1974). Control of Zonocerus variegatus (L.) in Nigeria: interim report, January 1972–July 1973—17 pp. London, Centre for Overseas Pest Research.Google Scholar
Ministry For Overseas Development (1975). Control of Zonocerus variegatus (L.) in Nigeria: 2nd interim report, 1973–74.—48. pp. London, Centre for Overseas Pest Research.Google Scholar
Ministry For Overseas Development (1977). Control of Zibicerus variegatus (L.) in Nigeria: final report and recommendations.— 15pp. London, Centre for Overseas Pest Research.Google Scholar
Phipps, J. (1970). Notes on the biology of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) in Sierra Leone.—J.Zools., Lond. 161, 317–349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richards, P. (1975). ‘‘Folk ecology’, as a basis for community orientated agricultural development, pp. 102–117in Richards, P. (Ed.). African environment. Problems and perspectives.— 117 pp. London, International African Institute.Google Scholar
Toye, S. A. (1974). Feeding and locomotory activities of Zonocerus variegatus (L.) (Orthoptera, Acridoidea).—Revue Zool. afr. 88, 205–212.Google Scholar
Vilardebo, A. (1954). La lutte contre Zonocerus variegatus..—Fruits d'outre mer. 9, 302–310.Google Scholar
Vuillaume, M. (1953). Biologie et comportement, en A.O.F., de Zonocerus variegatus. Thesis, Univ. Paris.Google Scholar
Vuillaume, M. (1954). Étude du cycle du Zonocerus variegatus. en basse Côte d'Ivoire..—Fruits d'outre mer. 9, 147–156.Google Scholar