What is it about?
The article discusses the use of insecticides to control the desert locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa from 2019-2021. While the insecticides were successful in controlling the locusts, there were negative consequences. Overdosing of fenitrothion in Kenya led to non-target mortality and in Ethiopia the use of chlorpyrifos and malathion led to a severe decline in honey production. The use of a selective fungus called Metarhizium acridum in Somalia was successful and suggests that the persistent use of organophosphate insecticides can no longer be justified. The article recommends an integrated approach to locust control that considers the complementary impact of M. acridum and bird predation.
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Why is it important?
Several major locust plagues or upsurges in the past 30 years preceded the 2019-2021 upsurge. In all of them organophosphate insecticides were used on a massive scale leading to externalities such as human intoxications, pollinator and honey losses, soil and water contamination and non-target mortality. These were largely unaccounted for and borne by society. We show that the successful use of M. acridum to control desert locust in Somalia offers a viable alternative for organophosphates. Therefore its use should be widely promoted and organophoshate use discontinued.
Perspectives
I was offered the chance to join TMG Research in analyzing the use of insecticides during the 2019-2021 desert locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa. I saw this as a great opportunity to build on my previous research on the impact of M. acridum and bird predation. However, obtaining reliable information was a challenge due to unpreparedness of the countries involved and insufficient monitoring. The study concluded that biocontrol is a promising approach for managing locusts.
Wim C. Mullié
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Insecticide Use against Desert Locust in the Horn of Africa 2019–2021 Reveals a Pressing Need for Change, Agronomy, March 2023, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13030819.
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