brake on
tbreaks
SAEON Arid Lands Node
s://bit.ly/36EXM14
nschel
ts have focused on
of Gregaria by apat
high costs. By
understand the rebeen
considered to
destroying masses
th significant collatystems.
as it is the Solitaria
s.
und that part of the
from the manageulations.
Adminishuman
resources
to lag behind the
up trying to control
what out of control.
tative management
s, applied consistensively
over time
and space, especially when densities
are low, would be far more effective.
Furthermore, scientists found that overgrazing
by livestock decreases the nutritional
quality of grass, which boosts
the population irruptions of locusts.
Solitaria favour grasses that are low in
nitrogen (proteins) but rich in carbohydrates,
which allows the locusts to
enhance resistance against pathogens
and build up fat reserves that promote
egg production and fuel flight.
Good rainfalls at the right time bring
about the rapid growth of ephemeral
grasses and trigger synchronised hatching
of locusts from egg banks. Crowding
stimulates the production of serotonin,
a neurotransmitter (“happy chemical”)
that changes locusts from being antisocial
to social.
tterstock)
Grassroots Vol 20 No 2 June 2020