Study of Ecological Aspect of Locust migratory (Locusta migratoria L.) (Orthoptera : Acrididae) and the Application of BioInseticide in Regency of Timor Tengah Utara and Belu Province Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

t.:Sorn is a staplefood, other than rice, for people of Nusa Tenggara Timur. This dt:dP is commonly cultivated in dry land area together with others crops such as rici cucumber, peanut, etc. In 2007/2008 migratory locust, (Locusta migratm-ia 1.,) attacked com and rice plantation in Kabupaten of Timor Tengah Utara .and Belu and damaging the majority of com and rice plantation. Due to this plagueliifood supplies for local people were threatened. In order to control this pest, a ltudy of ecology of migratory locust and their control method using Green Guard~ OO ULV (contain spores of Metarhizium anisopliae 1.) were conducted. The objctives of these researches were 1) to study the characteristic of migratory locust habitat; 2) to study the effect of soil moisture on locust egg hatching, 3) to study Iacust morphometry in relation to their phase development, 4) to study the efficac.,..i. of Green Guard® 300 ULV (GG) against migratory locust nymphs . Habita~haracteristic (vegetation, soil texture, and altitude) was observed in 34 sample3:treas (1 m2 ) in 5 Kecamatan. The effect soil moisture on egg hatching condu4d using clay, clay sandy loam, and sandy loam with soil moisture of 40%, ~%, 80% and 100%. In morphometric studies the length of elytra, the lengthl hind leg femur, and the width of head were measured. Efficacy of Green Guard 0300 UL V against L. migratoria conducted using GG 100%, GG 1 :50, GG 1: 100Q?-GG 1 :3000 (in vegetable oil) and control. The result showed that the highest egg pods laid was found at the area covered with grass in sandy clay soil with the altitude between 0-100 m above sea level. The highest percentage of egg hatching was found at clay sandy loam soil with the of moisture 80%. Morphometric studies revealed that between February to April 2009 there were more solitary individuals than transient, however some individuals belong to gregarious phase. The efficacy test of Green Guard® 300 UL V showed that the highest nymphs mortality was found on the concentration of 100% GG.