Biological characteristics and population density dynamics of locust Hieroglyphus tonkinensis Bolivar damaging bamboo Dendrocalamus barbatus in Phu Tho province

Abstract

Bamboo Dendrocalamus barbatus is confirmed a major plant for local
communities in developing economy and society in Phu Tho province. Because
of climate change and increasing areas of Dendrocalamus barbatus have brought
about breaking out some serious pests within the most threatening locust
Hieroglyphus tonkinensis between 2012 and at present in Phu Tho. Study on
morphological and biological characteristics of H. tonkinensis was carried out
from April of 2019 to April 2020 in Forest Protection Research Centre and Phu
Tho Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection. Obtained result show that
life cycle of this species was completed in 327.5 days at 27.6
o
C and 79.8%
relative humidity while egg, larva and adult are 241.26 days, 54.88 days and
31.26 days respectively. Surveillance of population density dynamics of the
locust in three districts including Thanh Son, Doan Hung and Yen Lap showed
that larva population density of this species reach a peak in April and May of the
year 2019. This result is very useful for applying methods to control them
damaging the bamboo in the province.