Dociostaurus albicornis

Dociostaurus albicornis, commonly known as a type of cross-backed grasshopper, is a significant insect pest belonging to the family Acrididae within the order Orthoptera. This species is native to steppe and arid regions, where it frequently undergoes population explosions, turning into a serious threat to both natural vegetation and cultivated land.

This grasshopper species primarily targets cereal crops, including wheat, barley, rye, and maize. In addition to cultivated fields, it thrives on native grasses in grasslands and pastures. Because it is highly mobile and polyphagous, it can migrate between wild vegetation and agricultural fields, making it a challenging pest to manage throughout the entire growing season.

The biology of this species follows a standard hemimetabolous cycle: egg, nymph (with five distinct instars), and adult. Overwintering occurs in the egg stage, safely protected within an underground egg pod. During the spring months, increased ground temperatures trigger hatching. The nymphs are voracious eaters and begin damaging young shoots shortly after emerging from the soil.

The economic damage caused by Dociostaurus albicornis is mainly due to the destruction of foliage and stem tissue. By consuming large parts of the plant, the grasshoppers reduce the photosynthetic surface area, leading to stunted growth, reduced grain filling, and, in severe outbreaks, complete defoliation. The aesthetic and functional damage to forage crops significantly lowers yields for livestock feed.

Effective management requires a multi-faceted approach. Cultural practices include deep tillage of fallow land and field borders to destroy egg pods before spring. Chemical control remains the most immediate solution during outbreaks; targeted applications of approved insecticides are applied during the early nymph stages to prevent migration into valuable crop areas and minimize future damage.

• Scouting for egg pods in late autumn.
• Monitoring population density of early instar nymphs.
• Application of perimeter insecticide barriers to prevent migration.