Experts show how to kill and prevent locusts from destroying crops
(Baonghean.vn) - Faced with the strong growth of locusts and their damage to crops in Hamlet 7, Nghia Binh Commune, Tan Ky District, professional agencies recommend the most effective solutions for eradication.
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| Yellow-backed locusts have been damaging bamboo in high density in Hamlet 7, Nghia Binh Commune (Tan Ky) since early May. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
According to the professional staff of the District Agricultural Service CenterTan Kysaid that the locusts causing damage in Nghia Binh commune are the yellow-backed locusts that damage bamboo.
Typeyellow-backed locust harms bambooThese insects mainly live in bamboo forests, they eat all the leaves, causing the trees to be bare, dry and die. When they run out of food, they will move to damage other crops such as corn, sugarcane, and grass...
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Yellow-backed locusts harm bamboo. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc - Head of the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection said that in the past, the yellow-backed locusts that damaged bamboo appeared frequently in some localities in Anh Son, Con Cuong and Tan Ky. However, in recent years, the yellow-backed locusts in Anh Son and Con Cuong have decreased significantly, only appearing frequently in some places in Nghia Binh commune, Tan Ky district.
To be proactive in prevention and minimize damage caused by yellow-backed bamboo locusts, Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc recommends: Farmers should regularly visit their fields to detect early nests of newly hatched locusts that are still clustered at low density. At that time, farmers should use manual nets to catch locusts.
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| People in Hamlet 7, Nghia Binh Commune used manual nets to catch locusts in large quantities, dried them, then ground them into powder to feed pigs and chickens... Photo: Xuan Hoang |
"People can use this type of yellow-backed grasshopper that harms bamboo as a food source for geese, ducks, and chickens, which is very good; or destroy it by digging a hole, pouring the grasshoppers in, then sprinkling lime powder and burying it," said Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc.
When the yellow-backed bamboo locust has developed strongly and started to cause widespread damage, it is necessary to use specialized pesticides and spray with specialized machines to isolate and spray each area to destroy them, avoiding them from spreading and causing widespread damage. Spraying should be done early in the morning or in the cool afternoon and from high to low, because this is the time when the yellow-backed bamboo locust moves less and often concentrates on causing damage to crops.
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| Bamboo forest in hamlet 7, Nghia Binh commune was devastated by yellow-backed locusts. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
For localities where the yellow-backed bamboo locust has not yet caused damage, it is necessary to strengthen investigation, monitoring, and forecasting the possibility of the yellow-backed bamboo locust arising and developing in order to proactively take timely prevention and control measures to avoid affecting the productivity and yield of farmers' crops.
In addition to Tan Ky district, other localities have also advised people not to catch locusts from other places to feed birds, chickens, and ducks, to prevent locusts from spreading and multiplying, causing crop damage.
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| Tan Ky district is using drones to spray pesticides to kill yellow-backed locusts that damage bamboo. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Grasshoppers usually like to lay eggs in moist, loose soil, with lots of weeds, lots of sunlight, and like to lay eggs on sandy soil. Grasshoppers have a lifespan of about 200 - 210 days. Of which, the egg period: 15 - 21 days, the larval period: 100 days, and the adult period is about 3 months.
Locusts move in swarms, both fully grown and juveniles cause disease. They gnaw on both young and old leaves, causing patches or holes in the leaves, severely damaged leaves with only the veins remaining. When moving in large swarms, they cause epidemics, which can damage all corn, rice or other crops in the area. Locusts appear all year round and depending on the number, can cause more or less damage. They are most active in cool weather, usually from 7-10am and 3-5pm.