A Review of the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the South American Locust, Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), and Future Prospects

Abstract

In the first half of the twentieth century, the South American Locust (SAL), Schistocerca cancellata (Serville, 1838), was a major pest of agriculture in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. From 1954–2014, a preventive management program appeared to limit SAL populations, with only small- to moderate-scale treatments required, limited to outbreak areas in northwest Argentina. However, the lack of major locust outbreaks led to a gradual reduction in resources, and in 2015, the sudden appearance of swarms marked the beginning of a substantial upsurge, with many swarms reported initially in Argentina in 2015, followed by expansion into neighboring countries over the next few years. The upsurge required a rapid allocation of resources for management of SAL and a detailed examination of the improvements needed for the successful management of this species. This paper provides a review of SAL biology, management history, and perspectives on navigating a plague period after a 60-year recession.EEA ManfrediFil: Trumper, Eduardo V. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; ArgentinaFil: Cease, A.J. Arizona State University. School of Sustainability; Estados UnidosFil: Cigliano, M.M. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Copa Bazán, F.C. Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno. Instituto de Investigaciones Agrícolas El Vallecito; BoliviaFil: Lange, C.E. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Medina, H.E. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA); ArgentinaFil: Overson, R.P. Arizona State University. School of Sustainability; Estados UnidosFil: Therville, C. Arizona State University. School of Sustainability; Estados UnidosFil: Pocco, M.E. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Piou, C. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD). Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations; FranciaFil: Zagaglia, G. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA). Sede Salta; ArgentinaFil: Hunter, D. Locust and Grasshopper Control; Australi