Acrotylus patruelis

Systematic position. Acrotylus patruelis is a species of grasshopper belonging to the order Orthoptera and the family Acrididae. This insect is primarily known as a pest in warmer climates, particularly in the Mediterranean and parts of Africa and Asia, where it thrives in dry, sunny, and open habitats with sparse vegetation.

Biology and lifecycle. The life cycle of this species consists of an egg stage, several nymphal instars, and the adult stage. Eggs are laid in the soil within protective pods (oothecae), usually in compacted or bare ground. Nymphs emerge in the spring and feed on low-growing vegetation, eventually developing into winged adults capable of migrating across agricultural landscapes.

Host plants. Acrotylus patruelis is a polyphagous pest, meaning it feeds on a wide range of plant species. It significantly impacts cereals, legumes, various vegetables, and young seedlings of horticultural crops. In rangelands, it competes with livestock by consuming significant amounts of green biomass, leading to economic losses in the pastoral sector.

Damage and economic impact. Both nymphs and adults consume foliage, often leading to skeletonized leaves and severely damaged stems. Under high population density, the pest can defoliate entire crop fields rapidly. This damage not only reduces the overall plant health and yield quantity but also impacts the quality of forage, making crops susceptible to pathogens and physiological stress.

Protection and control measures. Effective management of Acrotylus patruelis requires a multidisciplinary strategy:

• Tillage practices, such as autumn plowing, to expose and destroy egg pods in the soil.
• Regular scouting of field margins and fallow lands to detect early outbreaks.
• Application of selective insecticides when nymphs are in their early developmental stages.
• Maintaining field hygiene by controlling weeds that provide shelter and secondary food sources for the locusts.