Jeevan Chinnappa
Madikeri: Swarms of grasshoppers, disconcertingly resembling locusts, have descended upon parts of southern Kodagu, making farmers anxious about possible damage to their crops. However, scientists at the College of Forestry in Ponnampet, who have since been flooded with anxious phone calls, said that they had not noticed the insects damaging any crop in these areas so far.

Attracted to lights

The winged insects were found in large numbers in Gonicoppa, Bhadragola, Thithimathi, Polibetta, Devarapura, Kutta, Choorikad, Srimangala and surrounding areas in Virajpet taluk and seemed to be attracted towards bright streetlights. Several had been found dead in stagnant water-filled potholes on the roads, N.M. Poonacha, Extension Leader, Extension Education Unit, College of Forestry, told The Hindu.

Differences

Scientists at the Entomology Department at the college who examined the insects confirmed that they were not locusts but grasshoppers. Locusts have relatively small antennae, while the insects found here have antennae even longer than their body, R.N. Kencha Reddi, an entomologist from the college, said. Locusts had other morphological differences in their legs and in their thoracic region that enabled them to fly long distances, sometimes even between continents, Dr. Reddi said.

Dead grasshoppers found near a school in Gonicoppa were of two colours— the males were green and females brown — he said.

Location unknown

The grasshoppers were found on trees, plants, bushes and shrubs, but did not appear to be feeding on any specific plants, Mr. Poonacha said. The scientists at the Extension Education Unit have swung into action to find out where they came from, he said. A large number of bamboos had just flowered in the forests of Kodagu district this year and no one can be certain yet if this had anything to do with the grasshopper influx.

‘Never so many'

Mr. Poonacha added that this was not the first time the insects had been found in Kodagu, but never in such large numbers. Entomologists from the Gandhi Krishi Vijnana Kendra (GKVK) in Bangalore had come and collected samples of the grasshoppers to accurately identify them, he said. Only these scientists could explain their behaviour and why they were attracted towards streetlights and found dead the next day, he added.

The swarms have come down in size over the past couple of days but that has not stopped anxious calls coming in to find out if the insects were locusts that could destroy crops, Dr. Poonacha said.

Grass-feeding insects

Meanwhile, a press note from the Deputy Director of Horticulture said that the longhorn grasshoppers had been seen in the district over the past 15 days and they fed mostly on common grass. But, in the event of the grass becoming scarce, there was the possibility of them feeding on horticultural crops.

Features

The nocturnal insect could attack crops during nights, it added. Each female could lay between 300 to 400 eggs on the ground and both the nymphs emerging from eggs as well as the adult insects could feed on horticultural crops. They could fly up to 30 feet high and are prey for snakes, mongoose, crows and mynas.

Tackling the situation

Farmers can destroy them by burning them if they are found in large numbers. And if found attacking crops they could be tackled by mixing 2 ml of ‘Ekalax' or 2.5 ml of ‘Chlorophyriphos' in one litre of water. Alternatively, mix one gram of ‘Asephate' or two grams of ‘Beveria Basiana' in one litre of water and spray the mixture on the crops.