Mapa trains employees to combat locusts

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) held on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 1st, training via video conference for 100 employees and technicians from the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (Seapdr), Emater and the Ministry itself. Ministry for Locust Prevention and Control Schistocerca railing, also called Spanish, esperanza and langosta voladora. 

"Even with the remote chance of the locust cloud reaching Rio Grande do Sul's territory, we are doing our part to prepare the State to face it. We hope it will not be necessary, but if they do come, we will be ready to act", stated Secretary Covatti Filho.

The course speakers were entomologists and professors from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Clerison Perini, who spoke about the species and physiology of grasshopper migration, and Jerson Guedes, who spoke about monitoring, control and risk. And the entomologist and researcher at Embrapa Clima Temperado, Dori Nava, with the theme biology, hosts and ecology. 

“The training was very important to improve knowledge of the species and enable leveling of knowledge among technicians who are working directly with this issue. Including to define management strategies”, says the head of Seapdr’s Plant Health Defense Division, Ricardo Felicetti.

Characteristics of the grasshopper

These grasshoppers are polyphagous and feed on a wide variety of native and cultivated plants. It is one of the few species of Schistocerca that truly form dense migratory “clouds”. The wings are lacy and the general coloring involves different shades of brown.

According to the “Manual of general procedures for pest control Schistocerca Cancellata” published by Mapa in June this year, monitoring of young grasshoppers (nymphs) must be carried out on the ground, as they are unable to fly, applying insecticides in bands. Adults can be treated by air or land using cannon-type atomizers. It is recommended to apply with the spatially localized locust cloud. 

emergency state

The states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina have been in a state of phytosanitary emergency since June 25, as determined by Mapa. The measure is preventive and should last one year. The warning was given by the Argentine government at the end of June, when following the movement of a cloud of locusts towards the south of Brazil. Based on monitoring over the last few days, the cloud remains with low mobility, located in the Argentine province of Corrientes. But according to Felicetti, the Secretariat continues to monitor the situation.