In May 2022, the largest locust infestation in a quarter of a century landed on the eastern cape of South Africa, seizing five million hectares (19,305 square miles) of pasture. With another swarm scheduled for September, with the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere, farmers in the vast 168,966 km² province (65,238 square miles) have teamed up with researchers to present a high-tech innovation – a software package to track locust swarms in real time in hopes that it will direct them to extinction before they cause serious damage.
This will be the first time that state-of-the-art software has been used to track locusts in South Africa, says Bruce Jones, state representative of EarthRanger, a software product for the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, a nonprofit research institute. The software solution, developed by Vulcan Incorporated in partnership with several conservation and technology partners, combines real-time data from guard patrols, remote sensing and various sensors to generate real-time wildlife and / or pest reports covering vast areas of land .
Previously, this tracking software was used only in South Africa to track the movements of large game. It was introduced there in 2017 after 113 elephants died in a two-year period by poachers in the country’s largest nature reserve, the Kruger National Park of 19,485 km² (7,523 square miles).
Jones noted that locust tracking technology is widely used in East Africa where insects leaned at record levels in 2019 through Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Tanzania, and the number declined in 2021 after those countries found them on target.
Working in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), EarthRanger operated command centers in Kenya and Ethiopia to monitor the movement of locust swarms, while also monitoring workers and aircraft in real time to coordinate their rapid deployment to exterminate swarms. .
Gunther Pretorius, manager of the Eastern Cape Agricultural Association (AgriEC), says that before investing in EarthRanger’s help, his association and the provincial agriculture department could pinpoint a swarm of locusts only if a farmer or citizen telephoned their information offices. But often due to the lack of GPS coordinates, such calls made it difficult to accurately locate swarms.
“Now farmers can send GPS needles and we can put this data into EarthRanger and see exactly where these locusts are, and whether they are in the funnel stage [young locusts that can’t yet be lifted into the air] or are already flying,” Pretorius said. . “It will be very easy for our district locust officers to determine where to spray, which swarms are the largest, and which swarms to spray first.”
The software depends on the people in the field to fill it with data via a report to the AgriEC office. Although the technology is capable of connecting to drones that could collect more data over a larger area, that interface has not yet been set up in Eastern Cape.
However, Pretorius is confident that the locust activity maps created using the software will greatly help farmers and the government in removing the infestation this September.
Finding, targeting and eliminating swarms
Swarms of locusts threaten up to 10% of the world’s food supply, the FAO says, and Jones points out that since swarms are annual events, reducing their volume would greatly help minimize grasshopper reproduction rates and their annual damage.
The tracking process works best when it locates locusts while they are still “jumpers,” juveniles who cannot fly. Once spotted, farmers and locust control officers can most easily exterminate them on the ground at night or early in the morning when it is cold and when the energy levels of the insects are low.
However, there is a problem, Pretorius said: most swarms affecting the Eastern Cape start as jumpers in the neighboring provinces of Western and Northern Cape and then fly into the Eastern Cape in hundreds of swarms up to 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) wide.
“We are actually the province that has the biggest problem because they come to us in the flight phase where they are very difficult to control,” Pretorius explained. This is because a swarm of locusts made up of millions of insects can travel fast, flying 150 kilometers (more than 93 miles) a day, devouring crops, citrus leaves and lawns on their way. And hitting a fast-moving target with enough pesticides can be challenging.
Because locusts lay eggs after they begin to fly, early monitoring of swarms will allow farmers and district locust officers to track their flight path and look for eggs that can be destroyed before they hatch. This will help minimize future harmful swarms.
“Grasshopper eggs can lie dormant for 10 or 15 years, and then they will hatch, when the conditions are right. That’s why it’s so important to monitor swarms, ”said Jason Kümm, AgriEC’s communications manager.
Another artificial intelligence program, known as Kuzi, is used in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda. Kuzi software monitors locusts by collecting “satellite data on soil moisture, wind, humidity, surface temperatures and vegetation index” which is then used to calculate the locust breeding index, which can help alert farmers to the birth of swarms three months in advance, Kuzi chief explained. CEO John Oroko.
A map used to determine swarm locusts. Image courtesy of Earth Ranger.
A map used to determine swarm locusts. Image courtesy of Earth Ranger.
A map used to determine swarm locusts. Image courtesy of Earth Ranger.
A map used to determine swarm locusts. Image courtesy of Earth Ranger.
Worries over pesticide use
Although South African farmers may now have tools to locate swarms, conservationists are concerned about how insects are being destroyed in the country. Chemical pesticides, a continuous mechanism for this, are pitting South Africa against environmentally sensitive pest control methods used in other African countries that now use biopesticides.
During the locust infestation earlier this year in the Eastern Cape, the national government supplied AgriEC with two helicopters to treat swarms with chemical pesticides, namely Sumi-Alpha and Deltametrin, and also provided 16 “blowers” (portable units carried by workers’ teams on their backs). for insect spraying).
“We had two situations where people used smoke instead, but it didn’t really help much, so the main thing [used] was poison,” Pretorius said, noting that in some cases fire and smoke help repel locust swarms. , although the insects then simply fly to another area.
Spraying toxic pesticides on fruits or vegetables intended for human consumption is banned in South Africa, so farmers often use helicopter rotor water to bring down flying swarms by pushing them into unplanted areas, where insects can be sprayed and their corpses left to decompose. open ground.
One hopes that EarthRanger technology will allow farmers to quickly find funnels and spray them when they are “not so active,” Pretorius said, demanding less pesticides.
AgriEC believes that a chemical pesticide, once sprayed, contaminates the soil for only two weeks. However, a new study published in May 2022 recommends rejecting chemical pesticides in favor of non-toxic biopesticides such as the fungus Metarhizium acridum for killing locusts.
Academics led by Samuel Kamga of Yaoundé University in Cameroon have found that once early warning software predicts locust invasion, experts can calculate the optimal time when temperature and humidity are just right for applied M. acridum to succeed. Ideally for prevention, a mushroom-based biopesticide should be sprayed on areas that are likely to be affected before the swarm arrives.
Greenpeace Africa Campaign Officer from Kenya Claire Nasike also supports the use of M. acridum-based biopesticides to control swarms. She says that, depending on their chemical properties, some pesticides currently used last in the soil much longer than two weeks, persisting and damaging the microorganisms that make the soil fertile for crops.
She noted that toxic chemical pesticides can travel long distances across surface runoff and contaminate water sources into which they flow. “Some can leak into groundwater sources, eventually contaminating them and reducing the available fresh water to use. Some, such as deltamethrin, which is often used, can harm bees (which are necessary in food production) and fish. ”
M. acridum, on the other hand, only kills locusts and does not pollute the environment. “It can be used to kill swarms of locusts. This method has been proven to work in countries such as Tanzania and Madagascar, provided it is applied on time. The use of toxic [chemical] pesticides should not be a reaction to problems with locusts that can be solved with biopesticides and proper planning, ”says Nasike.
In South Africa, farmers eagerly await September to see how well their early warning system for locust swarms works and whether insects can be effectively controlled.
Banner image: A huge swarm of locusts devours corn grown in the village of Katitika, Kitui County, Kenya. Picture of Sven Torfinn / FAO.
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Climate change adaptation, agriculture, agrochemicals, climate change, conservation technology, crops, disasters, environment, agriculture, insects, surveillance, pesticides, real-time monitoring, research, technology, technology and conservation, technology development, weather, Wildtech
How do commercial beekeepers stop swarming?
Nuc is essentially a controlled swarm, and it is a technique most commonly used by commercial beekeepers to control swarming. The idea is simple: 2-4 frames of bees and broods can be removed from strong communities and used to create new communities.
How is birth control controlled? Removal of the queen – Removing the queen in the growing colony is an effective swarm control, but it often takes a long time to search for the queen. After removal of the queen, the colony is left for 7 to 9 days, then the queen is placed in a cage and returned to the colony after all stem cells have been destroyed again.
How do you stop a swarm in progress?
To be on the safe side, I would move the original hive with the nut as far away as you have space. Thirty to fifty feet is best. Then place both splits next to each other where the original hive was. This will seek to even out the hives and further reduce the propensity to swarm.
How does Galera cluster work?
Galera Cluster manages the replication process using a feedback mechanism called Flow Control. This allows the node to pause and resume replication according to its performance needs and prevent any node from lagging too far behind the others in the transaction application.
Is Galera cluster free?
Galera Cluster software is free to download and use, along with MySQL and MariaDB software for the cluster database component. There are no licensing fees.
How do beekeepers prevent swarming?
A few weeks before the bee community swarms, the process of creating a new queen bee begins. Several large peanut-shaped cells called stem cells contain a candidate for a developing queen. A beekeeping technique is popular among beekeepers to prevent swarming.
How do bees prevent swarming?
Pruning the stem cells to delay swarming Several large peanut-shaped cells called – stem cells contain a candidate for a developing queen. A beekeeping technique is popular among beekeepers to prevent swarming. This is just a delay tactic and is often a very bad plan to prevent a swarm of honey bees.
Why would a beekeeper want to prevent swarming?
Swarming is a natural way to create new colonies of bee colonies. But we as beekeepers want to prevent swarming and keep as many bees in our hives as possible. When the hive swarms, the older bees leave – the bees that brought most of the honey.
How do you control swarming in bees?
7 tips for swarm prevention
- Plan to make a split in the spring. When the colonies pass severe winters, plan for early splitting. …
- Reverse the depths. …
- Queen again. …
- Get to know your bee breeds. …
- Regular spring inspections. …
- Follow mother nature. …
- Give them space.
What is mean by swarm control?
Swarm prevention involves strategies to delay or stop the colony in initiating events that lead to swarming. Swarm control strategies are more direct interventions used to prevent swarm loss.
How do I stop a bee swarm?
Peppermint has a very strong smell that bees do not like. If you have a certain area in your home that you don’t want bees to visit often, plant peppermint plants. You will repel bees, plus you will be able to use peppermint when needed. The strong smell of cinnamon repels bees.
What plants repel locusts?
Marigold and horehound can be useful for deterring locusts.
What are the natural enemies of locusts? Desert grasshoppers have natural enemies such as predatory wasps and flies, parasitoid wasps, larvae of predatory beetles, birds and reptiles.
What kills locusts naturally?
My colleague and I have discovered that flaxseed oil, combined with some essential oils, is very effective in killing the two most problematic locust species: Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria. Both species are highly destructive and are responsible for most epidemics in Africa.
How do I kill locusts?
APPLY LAWN GRANULES ^ To prepare for the upcoming season, apply BIFEN GRANULES to your lawn in late winter or early spring. These slow-release granules will kill young locust nymphs as they emerge from the eggs. This will help minimize their presence in the yard.
What chemicals kill locusts?
He noted that pesticides recommended by the Indian government to control locusts include toxic substances such as malathion, chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin. Organophosphate pesticides such as Malathion and Chlorpyrifos are highly toxic to humans and animals.
How do you keep locusts from eating your plants?
Keep locusts away from your crops
- What to do to prevent locusts. One of the best things you can do to prevent locusts is tillage. …
- Multipurpose flour. …
- Birds. …
- Frogs. …
- Neem oil.
- Neem oil is a safe, all-natural oil that has multiple uses. …
- Garlic or hot pepper spray. …
- Barrier plants.
How do you stop locusts?
For the destruction of locusts, the first and most important activity is the organized locating and destruction of locust eggs by plowing, harrowing and digging. Also digging trenches measuring 2 x 2 x 2 around the area of laid eggs will help to capture the nymphs, which are young locusts that do not fly.
Do locust eat garden plants?
Grasshopper diet Grasshoppers eat the leaves and delicate tissues of plants. They are strong fliers like adults and persistent jumpers like nymphs. Large swarms of locusts can completely tear off the leaves and stems of plants such as grasses and grasses.
How long do locust live underground?
The cicada will stay underground for 2 to 17 years, depending on the species. Cicadas are active underground, go through tunnels and feed, and do not sleep or hibernate as is usually thought. After 2 to 17 long years, cicadas emerge from the earth as nymphs.
Comment reconnaître un robinier? About scouting le Robinier à:
- These are gray-brown crevasses.
- These are beautiful pine trees.
- Ses feuilles alternes à 3-10 pari de folioles ovales.
- These flowers are white and odorant in grapes.
Quel est le nom du fruit du robinier ?
The robinier faux acacia produces fruit that appeals to gouses. They are long than a dozen centimeters and a form of payment. The gousses continent of grains. Good evening: the robinier grains faux acacia are not dog-friendly.
Quel est le fruit du robinier ?
The fruits of robinier are dessert plates, glaze (sans poils) and loungers of brown-red color containing large grains. The fruit agitator has a height of 7 to 12 cm long, which arrives at graduation at the end of the state.
Quel est le fruit de l’Acacia ?
The perianth is 4-5 times, 4-5 minutes. Androcée is a merry-go-round. The pistil is composed of a carpelle. The fruits are gourmet.
Où pousse le robinier Faux-acacia ?
Le Robinier, or faux Acacia, is an ornamental pine tree of the Fabacées family, the original of the American plains of the North.
Où pousse le robinier ?
Originally from the Americas of the North, the robinier is a little part of the world. Le tronc brun gris du robinier présente une escorce épaisse et crevassée verticalement; the tree gate of the great spines on the young grains and the rameaux non florifères.
Comment reconnaître un robinier d’un acacia ?
Le Robinier et l’Acacia are the specimens of trees that are assembled. L’Acacia is an essence of tropical woods, the origin of Africa, Australia and the Americas of the South. Le Robinier, quant à lui, est une essence de bois originaire d’Europe de l’Est.
Pourquoi Appelle-t-on le robinier Faux-acacia ?
L’Acacia is an essence of tropical woods, the origin of Africa, Australia and the Americas of the South. Le Robinier, quant à lui, est une essence de bois originaire d’Europe de l’Est. Le Robinier also called “Faux acacia” in a series of visual similitudes that parceled with Acacia.
What caused the locust swarms in Africa?
Gregarization of these locusts into swarms is associated with precipitation and in some cases irrigation of cereal crops. The current swarm is likely the result of heavy rains in the area in January. Floods and heavy rainfall allow the grasshopper to expand the area in which it can lay eggs.
What caused the recent swarms of locusts? The current swarm is likely the result of heavy rains in the area in January. Floods and heavy rainfall allow the grasshopper to expand the area in which it can lay eggs. Adult females lay eggs in moist soil in fairly open areas. In order for an embryo to develop, it must absorb water at an early stage of development.
Why are there locust swarms in Africa?
Swarms began to form in 2018 after cyclones threw heavy rain on the inhospitable deserts of Arabia, allowing locusts to breed invisibly in the wet sand. Strong winds in 2019 carried growing swarms into Yemen’s inaccessible conflict zones, then across the Red Sea to Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Why do locusts swarm every 7 years?
Swarms of locusts occur when this species of grasshopper (there are more than 1500 varieties) is found in “marginal regions” that do not offer them a suitable habitat. This can happen when they have spent too much time in beautiful places and their number has outgrown the space.
What is going on in Africa with the locusts?
The locust invasion of East Africa has been described as the worst in 25 years for Ethiopia and Somalia, and the worst in 70 years for Kenya. Desert locusts move in large numbers and can multiply by a factor of 20 every three months.
What is causing the locust explosion?
Swarms of desert locusts have been recorded in the region for centuries, but unusual weather conditions have caused strong cyclones and heavy rains in the Arabian Peninsula, spurring vegetation growth higher than normal which has created ideal conditions for locusts to feed and invade, scientists say.
Can you stop a locust swarm?
Isolates of fungi and microbes targeting locusts offer an alternative to the widespread use of pesticides. And bringing the smell of an adult grasshopper among young insects can help destroy swarms.
Is locust caused by climate change?
“It’s pretty certain that climate change has contributed.” Locust plagues are associated with strong recent cyclones in the rapidly warming western Indian Ocean, with heavy rains, strong winds and soaked soil creating ideal conditions for desert locusts to breed and spread.
When was the last locust swarm in the US?
The last large swarms of Rocky Mountain locusts were between 1873 and 1877, when the grasshopper caused $ 200 million in crop damage in Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and other states.
Where was the last swarm of locusts? In 2020, billions of insects landed on East African countries that had not seen locusts for decades, triggered by unusual weather-related climate change. Kenya last faced a plague of this magnitude more than 70 years ago; Ethiopia and Somalia, more than 30 years ago.
When was the last big locust swarm?
The last major grasshopper epidemic, which began in 2003 and lasted until 2005, resulted in $ 2.5 billion in crop damage. Studies have shown that the economic impact has been greatly felt by self-employed farmers.
What was the largest locust swarm in history?
In 1875, the largest swarm of locusts in history in the Midwest was recorded – 198,000 square miles. (For size reference, California covers 163,696 square miles.) It is estimated that the 1875 swarm contained several trillion locusts and probably weighed several million tons.
What does the Bible say about swarms of locusts?
“There had never been such a plague of locusts before, nor will there ever be. They covered the whole earth until it turned black. They devoured all that was left after the hail — all that grew in the fields and the fruit on the trees.” ~ Exodus verses 10 to 15.
Where is the locust swarm now 2021?
The situation with locusts is still serious in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. As expected, new immature swarms began to form after mid-September in the summer nesting areas of northeastern Ethiopia and most likely in the neighboring areas of the northern plateau where funnel bands were recorded.
Where is the most affected place of locust swarm?
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says these swarms represent the worst contagion in 25 years in Ethiopia and Somalia, 26 years in India and the worst in 70 years in Kenya. To date, the crisis has affected 23 countries, from Pakistan to Tanzania.
Are there still locust swarms?
Locusts occur in many parts of the world, but today locusts are the most destructive in regions of Africa for self-farming. The species with the greatest economic impact, the desert grasshopper, threatens one-fifth of the Earth’s surface and one-tenth of the world’s population. Over 60 countries are vulnerable to swarms.
Does the US have locust swarms?
Grasshopper plagues on Rocky Mountain were a major problem in the 19th century in the western United States, but there have been no grasshopper plagues in North America for more than a hundred years.
Do locusts still swarm in the US?
Locusts are found on all continents except Antarctica. In North America, the Rocky Mountain grasshopper (Melanoplus spretus) has become extinct for a century, but other grasshopper species remain in Mexico. Depending on the species, a swarm of flying locusts can travel hundreds of miles in search of food.
Do locusts live in the US?
North America is currently the only subcontinent other than Antarctica without an indigenous locust species. The Rocky Mountain grasshopper used to be one of the most important pests there, but it became extinct in 1902.
