Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T23:56:03.915Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Reactions of the Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.), (Orthoptera, Acrididae) to Physical Factors, with special Reference to Relative Humidity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

S. A. Aziz
S. A. Aziz
Affiliation:
Imperial College, London.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Reactions of 3-day-old first- and fourth-instar hoppers of Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.) of phase gregaria, to three physical factors, namely to relative humidity, temperature and light have been studied in an alternative chamber apparatus designed to give an enclosed space with gradients of humidity. The responses to each factor independent of the others, and to the interactions of these factors, were considered.

It was found that both the first- and the fourth-instar hoppers respond strongly to humidity. They are agitated by low, and even more by very high, humidities, but become more quiescent within a zone of 60–70 per cent. R.H., where they spend more time. Within this zone they hop and turn less and this decrease in activity appears to be a response which is independent of both temperature and of light intensity. This zone of decreased agitation has been called “the zone of minimum activity”. However, the speed of walking in contrast to the other types of activity, increased progressively with humidity.

Increase in light intensity raises the level of activity at all humidities, i.e., it increases the duration of activity within the limits of experimental time and the speed of walking. With rise in temperature there is an increase in hopping, in klinokinesis and orthokinesis.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 48 , Issue 3 , September 1957 , pp. 515 - 531
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1957

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bodenheimer, F. S. (1944). Studies on the ecology and control of the Moroccan Locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus) in Iraq. I.—Bull. Iraq Dir.-Gen. Agric., no. 29, 121 pp.Google Scholar
Bodenheimer, F. S. & others. (1929). Studien zur Epidemiologie, ökologie und Physiologie der afrikanischen Wanderheuschrecke (Schistocerca gregaria Forsk.).—Z. angew. Ent., 15, pp. 435–557.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dempster, J. P. (1953). The density of Orthopterous populations and their distributions within the general area occupied.—Ph.D. thesis, Univ. London.Google Scholar
Ellis, P. E. (1951). The marching behaviour of hoppers of the African Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria migratorioides R. & F.) in the laboratory.—Anti-Locust Bull., no. 7, 46 pp.Google Scholar
Everly, R. T. (1929). Preliminary experiments on the jumping reactions of Melanoplus differentialis Uhler.—Ohio J. Sci., 29, pp. 309–315.Google Scholar
Fraenkel, G. (1929). Untersuchungen über Lebensgewohnheiten, Sinnesphysiologie und Sozialpsychologie der wandernden Larven der afrikanischen Wanderheuschrecke, Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.).—Biol. Zbl., 49, pp. 657–680.Google Scholar
Fraenkel, G. (1930). Die Orientierung von Schistocerca gregaria zu strahlender Wärme.—Z. vergl. Physiol., 13, pp. 300–313.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fraenkel, G. S. & Gunn, D. L. (1940). The orientation of animals: kineses, taxes and compass reactions.—352 pp. Oxford, Clarendon Pr.Google Scholar
Gunn, D. L. & Cosway, C. A. (1938). The temperature and humidity relations of the cockroach. V. Humidity preference.—J. exp. Biol., 15, pp. 555–563.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunn, D. L. & Kennedy, J. S. (1936). Apparatus for investigating the reactions of land arthropods to humidity.—J. exp. Biol., 13, pp. 450–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamilton, A. G. (1936). The relation of humidity and temperature to the development of three species of African locusts—Locusta migratoria migratorioides (R. & F.), Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.), Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serv.).—Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., 85, pp. 1–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamilton, A. G. (1950). Further studies on the relation of humidity and temperature to the development of two species of African locusts— Locusta migratoria migratorioides (R. & F.) and Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.).—Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., 101, pp. 1–58.Google Scholar
Hussein, M. (1937). The effect of temperature on locust activity.—Bull. Minist. Agric. Egypt, no. 184, 55 pp.Google Scholar
Karandikar, K. R. (1933). Annual report of the Locust Research Laboratory, Pasni, for the year 1932.—39 pp. Simla, Govt. India Pr.Google Scholar
Kennedy, J. S. (1937). The humidity reactions of the African Migratory Locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides R. & F., gregarious phase.—J. exp. Biol., 14, pp. 187–197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennedy, J. S. (1939). The behaviour of the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.)) (Orthopt.) in an outbreak centre.—Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., 89, pp. 385–542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennedy, J. S. (1945). Observations on the mass migration of Desert Locust hoppers.—Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., 95, pp. 247–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennedy, J. S. (1951). The migration of the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forsk.). I. The behaviour of swarms. II. A theory of long-range migrations.—Philos. Trans., (B) 235, pp. 163–290.Google Scholar
Key, K. H. L. (1936). Experimental studies on locomotor activity in Locusta migratoria migratorioides, R. & F.—Bull. ent. Res., 27, pp. 399–422.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, J. R. (1930). Some effects of temperature and moisture upon Melano-plus mexicanus mexicanus Saussure and Camnula pellucida Scudder (Orthoptera).—Bull. Mont, agric. Exp. Sta., no. 223, 132 pp.Google Scholar
Slifer, E. H. (1951). Some unusual structures in Locusta migratoria migratorioides and their probable function as thermoreceptors.—Proc. roy. Soc., (B) 138, pp. 414–437.Google Scholar
Solomon, M. E. (1945). The use of cobalt salts as indicators of humidity and moisture.—Ann. appl. Biol., 32, pp. 75–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Solomon, M. E. (1951). Control of humidity with potassium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, or other solutions.—Bull. ent. Res., 42, pp. 543–554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strel'nikov, I. D. (1936). Effect of the solar radiation and the micro-climate on body temperature and behaviour of the larvae of Locusta migratoria L. [In Russian with English summary.]—Trav. Inst. zool. Acad. Sci. U.R.S.S., 2, pp. 637–733.Google Scholar
Volkonsky, M. (1939). Sur la photo-akinèse des Acridiens.—Arch. Inst. Pasteur Algér., 17, pp. 194–220.Google Scholar