The Department of Phytosanitary Safety and Control in Plant Growing of the Main Department of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection in Kharkiv Region informs: due to the mass distribution in some southern regions of Ukraine, in particular Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson and Odessa regions, of gregarious species of locusts (Egyptian and Italian locusts and other species), there is a high probability of these pests entering the territory of Kharkiv Region.
These pests pose a serious threat to crops due to their high fecundity, voraciousness, and ability to travel long distances. Adult locusts can migrate tens or even hundreds of kilometers per day, and under favorable weather conditions, up to 200 km or more. This means that in a matter of days or weeks, locusts can reach our region and cause significant damage to crops.
In the Kharkiv region, feeding of larvae and adults of non-herding winged insects is currently observed only in their reservation areas (non-arable lands, gullies, and thickets) at a number below the economic threshold for harmfulness. Infestation of agricultural crops has not yet been detected.
The hot and dry weather of July creates ideal conditions for the formation of high concentrations of these pests in pastures, meadows, non-arable lands, in forest belts, as well as in adjacent crops of sunflower, corn, vegetables and other agricultural crops.
Locusts prefer cereal crops (corn, millet, sorghum, wheat), but can also damage other plants.
All locusts common in Ukraine have one generation per year, overwintering as eggs in the soil.
The Main Department of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection in the Kharkiv region strongly recommends that heads of executive bodies and local governments ensure that business entities whose activities are related to the cultivation of agricultural crops and the population strengthen supervision over the phytosanitary condition of all areas of arable and non-arable land, household plots regarding the possible development of locusts, paying special attention to areas bordering the Dnipropetrovsk region.
In case of detection of Italian cockroaches in numbers of 2-5 individuals per sq. m, non-herding locusts – 10-15 individuals per sq. m, chemical treatments are used.
Protective treatments against locusts begin with the mass appearance of 1st-instar larvae. The bulk of gregarious locust larvae should be eliminated as they develop into 3rd-4th instar; chemical measures should be completed before winging.
Methods of treatment with chemical preparations (continuous, regional, local - in places of high pest concentration) depend on specific conditions and the number of pests. Use insecticides according to the "List of pesticides and agrochemicals permitted for use in Ukraine".
Be sure to follow safety measures: 3 days before carrying out chemical treatment, it is necessary to notify the heads of the executive committees of village and settlement councils, as well as the owners of apiaries, about the time and place of work, indicating the name, degree and duration of toxicity of the drug. Carry out all chemical treatments in compliance with the regulations for the use of plant protection products, safety precautions and sanitary rules when working with them.
Be sure to report any signs of a mass accumulation of gregarious locust species to the Department of Phytosanitary Safety and Control in Plant Growing of the Main Department of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection in Kharkiv Region by calling (057)725-19-07 or (057)725-19-08.