Analytical observation Upsurge and Current Situation of Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) in Sindh, Pakistan:

Muhammad Noman  Bashir; Riffat  Sultana; Santosh Kumar; Surriya Sanam; Shahid Majeed; Gul Hassan Shaikh

doi:10.38211/joarps.2023.04.01.55

Authors

Muhammad Noman Bashir Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Riffat Sultana Department of Zoology, Sindh University, JamShoro https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4775-8452
Santosh Kumar Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Surriya Sanam Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Shahid Majeed Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Gul Hassan Shaikh Department of Botany, Shah Latif University Khairpur Sindh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38211/joarps.2023.04.01.55

Keywords:

Agricultural seasons, Alertness; COI, Crops; Damage, Desert locust, Identify, Management, Upsurge

Abstract

Schistocerca gregaria (Forskl, 1775), one of the most notorious insects in the world, significantly harms the economy and agriculture each year. It was reputedly the biggest infestation to hit Pakistan since the 1990s, destroying wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton, and vegetable crops, and it was also the cause of the worst disaster of 2019–2020. We have extensively examined the external characteristics of this swarm using the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit 1 (COI), morphometry of the solitary and gregarious phases, influenced host plants, as well as its deterrent status. Swarms of Desert Locusts, which have been on the rise recently, have had a substantial negative influence on Pakistan's agriculture, destroying all kinds of crops. Preliminary projections of the financial losses over the two agricultural seasons in 2020 and 2021 may vary from 3.4 billion US dollars to 10.21 billion US dollars. This drastically increased the price of ordinary products in the market. In addition, locust activity has grown and is presently present in a number of affected areas. For the species to be managed and controlled effectively, accurate species identification is essential. This study seeks to explain this essential management attention

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Author Biographies

Muhammad Noman Bashir, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

Ph.D Scholar

Santosh Kumar, Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan

Assistant Professor

Surriya Sanam, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

Scholar

Shahid Majeed, Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Researcher

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