What are the natural enemies of the desert locust? How to carry out prevention and control work in 2020
Locusts are a common type of insect in farmland, mostly occurring in desert, tropical and temperate grassland regions, and not long ago, a locust plague occurred in Africa that happens once in 70 years. This locust plague was mainly the short-horned locust that inhabits deserts, with very strong reproductive capacity, and has now caused severe impact on crops. So what are the natural enemies of the desert locust? How should prevention and control work be carried out in 2020?
I. What are the natural enemies of the desert locust?
The desert locust has many natural enemies, such as frogs, birds, lizards, robber flies, mantises, ants, ground beetles, etc., so you can catch some common frogs, ants, mantises and the like from daily life and bring them over for control.
II. How to prevent and control the desert locust?
1. Spray with biological agents such as microsporidia, azadirachtin and Metarhizium anisopliae, which have a very good control effect on locusts.
2. Control locusts by raising chickens and ducks. About two weeks after locusts hatch is the best time to exterminate them, as at this time the locusts cannot fly and are just right for chickens and ducks to eat. Therefore, biological control is best for preventing and controlling pest outbreaks, as it can reduce pesticide damage and maintain ecological balance, while also earning some income through raising chickens and ducks.
3. Use machinery to spray chemical pesticides over large areas, though when using pesticides to control locusts, it will also indirectly kill the natural enemies of locusts and other insects, severely damaging the ecological balance. The main chemical agents for controlling locusts include dichlorvos, malathion, cypermethrin, Cascade, and kuailailing, among others. When using pesticides to control locusts, pesticides must be used strictly in accordance with the instructions.
III. How should desert locust prevention and control work be carried out in 2020?
1. Do a good job in grassland locust plague prevention and control work
Forestry and grassland authorities at all levels must firmly establish a bottom-line thinking awareness, and must not be negligent in any way or take things lightly. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, they must fully recognize the extreme importance of doing a good job in locust plague prevention and control work, and earnestly fulfill the industry management responsibilities of forestry and grassland authorities. At the same time, in accordance with the principle of territorial management of biological disasters, local main responsibilities must be consolidated, strictly preventing locust plagues from occurring due to lax management, and effectively safeguarding grassland ecological security.
2. Strengthen monitoring and surveillance, and promptly grasp the international and domestic disaster dynamics of the desert locust
According to expert assessment, if climatic conditions are suitable, the desert locusts occurring this time present a risk of directly invading Tibet from Pakistan and India, or invading Yunnan via Myanmar, or invading Xinjiang via Kazakhstan. Provinces and regions bordering India, Pakistan and Myanmar, such as Yunnan, Tibet and Xinjiang, must pay close attention to and closely monitor the changing dynamics of the desert locust, set up monitoring points along possible migration paths, and effectively carry out desert locust monitoring work in border areas. At the same time, coordination and communication must be strengthened, inter-provincial collaboration carried out, and the sharing of information, resources and technology realized, ensuring efficient and coordinated work. Important changes in desert locust conditions must be reported promptly to the Grassland Management Department of our bureau and the General Station of Forest and Grassland Pest and Disease Prevention and Control.
3. Improve emergency response plans, and strive to build a long-term mechanism for grassland locust plague prevention and control work
Forestry and grassland authorities at all levels must strengthen cooperation with agriculture and rural affairs departments, establish and improve joint prevention and control and information sharing mechanisms for grassland locust plagues, and in particular carry out joint investigation and joint treatment actions in farming-pastoral transition zones and forest-grassland transition zones, achieving comprehensive monitoring and effective prevention and control of key outbreak areas. Scientific research on locust plague prevention and control materials, equipment and related technologies must be strengthened, constantly enriching prevention and control methods and optimizing prevention and control measures. At the same time, plan drills must be strengthened so that once a disaster occurs, there can be a rapid response to minimize disaster losses to the greatest extent.
4. Strengthen the implementation of measures, and do a good job in all aspects of grassland locust plague prevention and control work in 2020
Forestry and grassland authorities at all levels must also promptly conduct trend consultations, integrate relevant experts from scientific research and teaching institutions, analyze and assess the risks of grassland locust plague outbreaks abroad and locally, and formulate corresponding countermeasures to prevent problems before they occur. Monitoring work must be strengthened, and areas where locust plagues may occur must be divided into sections with responsibility assigned to individuals and investigated one by one. In accordance with the migration and development of grassland locusts, the locust monitoring reporting system and duty system must be launched at appropriate times, and early warning information released at appropriate times to promptly guide public opinion. Preparatory and reserve work for locust control agents, equipment, funds and personnel must be done promptly, and matters such as preparing locust control aircraft must be implemented early, ensuring that effective measures can be taken quickly when a locust plague occurs. The building of specialized emergency prevention and control teams must be strengthened, prevention and control technology training and practical drills must be strengthened, and the capacity for grassland locust plague prevention and control must be continuously improved. Relevant situations should be reported promptly to the Grassland Management Department of our bureau.
In short, the desert locust has many natural enemies, but for locusts similar to those in Africa, relevant prevention and control measures must still be taken to minimize disaster losses to the greatest extent.