D3525: Experimental development and implementation of a management program against locust (Orthoptera: Acrididae) outbreaks in Fthiotis and Aghios Efstratios areas in Greece

Locusts (Orthoptera: Acrididae) are potential thread to various crops, since excessive increase of their population can lead to outbreaks causing great crop losses, decreasing farmers’ income, damaging native vegetation and reducing biodiversity. Locusts’ outbreaks occur in the regions of Kompotades (Lamia) and Agios Efstratios island (North Aegean), since 2022 and 2016, respectively. The objective of this case study was the management of locusts’ population designing an action plan that would also restore the biodiversity of the areas. The hotspots of the locusts’ population were detected by scouting teams and surveillance UAV and chemical and non-chemical insecticides were applied in the areas with ULV sprayers. For the assessment of the efficacy of the control programs, the population variation of the locusts and the Simpson biodiversity index of the areas were calculated through samplings. The results showed that there is more than 80% decrease in the population of the locusts in the areas even after the first insecticide application. As long as the biodiversity is concerned, the Simpson biodiversity index was extremely high (>0.75) in both areas and the detected species of flora and fauna were also increased. Further details about the results and extensive discussion are given in the presentation. The project partially funded by the scientific grant "Pilot Treatment of Locusts using Precision Crop Protection in the region of Kompotades, Fthiotida", Hellenic Rural Development Program.