Bombay locust (Patanga succincta)
| Patanga succincta | |
|---|---|
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| Other common names | |
| タイワンツチイナゴ (Jpn), 条背土蝗 (Chi) | |
| Taxonomic classification | |
| Suborder: | Caelifera |
| Family: | Acrididae |
| Subfamily: | Cyrtacanthacridinae |
| Tribe: | Cyrtacanthacridini |
| Genus: | Patanga |
| Scientific name | |
| Patanga succincta (Johannson, 1763) | |
| Geography | |
| Native countries: | |
| Pest status | |
| Known pest | |
In times of active swarming (before 1908) the Bombay locust was as infamous as the Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) in India. Today they are considered an economically significant agricultural pest in Southeast Asia.[1]
Taxonomy
For full nomenclature and taxonomic details of this taxon, see Orthoptera Species File No subspecies recorded for this taxon.
Identification
The Bombay locust is part of the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae which contains many of the world’s most notorious locusts. These grasshoppers are typically large-bodied, strong fliers, and capable of forming swarms under favorable environmental conditions. Their ability to switch between solitary and gregarious phases, known as phase polyphenism, underlies their capacity for sudden population outbreaks. Important locust species include the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), the red locust (Nomadacris septemfasciata), the South American locust (Schistocerca cancellata), the Central American locust (Schistocerca piceifrons), the the Sahelian tree locust (Anacridium melanorhodon), the brown locust (Locustana pardalina), and the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). Many of these species are adapted to arid and grassland environments across Africa, Asia, and Australia, where periodic rainfall can trigger rapid breeding and swarm development.
Morphologically, Cyrtacanthacridinae species are distinguished by the presence of a prosternal spine and robust hind femora adapted for jumping. Wing coloration, often featuring bright hindwings with yellow, red, or rose tones, serves as a key diagnostic feature.
The Bombay locust can be differentiated from Patanga japonica by a distinct combination of traits: a pronotum with yellow margins, minimal or absent body hair, and a reddish-purple coloration at the base of the hind wing pads, which appears only in individuals over one month old. The markings below the compound eyes are generally translucent.[2]
Identification details
Patanga succincta has an outer surface that is mostly smooth, with a grayish-brown color that darkens and becomes slightly red with age. A broad yellowish band runs along the center of the head and pronotum, extending onto the tegmina. Another yellow band appears on the sides of the pronotum, continuing down the wings’ edges. There are dark spots on the pale, nearly transparent parts of the wing, particularly in the medial and radial sectors. The hindwings often develop a deep pink tint, and the hind tibiae are yellowish brown.[1]
Early-stage nymphs are green with black speckling. From the fifth instar onward, some develop an orange tint on the face, abdomen, and upper legs. Orange or fawn coloring is common in individuals raised in groups, whereas isolated ones tend to stay green.[1]
Identification resources
Distribution
Bombay locusts are widely distributed across South Asia and parts of Southeast and East Asia. Its range includes Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan (only in Southwest Islands except Osumi Islands)[2], Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1]
For more information and distribution records see [GBIF]
Biology and ecology
The Bombay locust is univoltine with a long overwintering adult diapause.[1] The timing of its life cycle varies with local ecological conditions. In areas outside the equator, adults go into diapause during the dry season, and eggs are laid at the start of the rainy season. For example, in Japan’s Southwest Islands, eggs are laid from late February to May and hatch in April, with adults appearing after July. In contrast, in Malaysia, eggs are laid in August–September and hatch about 40 days later, with most adults maturing by January or February.[2]
Each female lays 1 to 4 egg pods that can contain anywhere from 38–265 eggs in each pod[2], laid in soft sandy soil, open grasslands, millet fields, and bundles between fields[1] e.g. piles of sugarcane waste[2]. Eggs take around 40 days to develop.[2]
Swarming behavior has been observed in this species, though it is relatively limited in Japan. Adult Bombay locusts are believed to be capable of flying continuously for over four hours, making adult flight the main method by which populations spread to new, previously uninfested areas.[2] In contrast, nymph do not march in bands and even at high density they do not move over large areas.[1]
Habitat and ecology
The Bombay locust inhabits a variety of environments, including grasslands, fields, forests, and gardens. It is found in the grassy plains of Asia up to about 1,500 m.[1] They often inhabit desturbed and deforested areas that have been taken over by weedy grasses.[1]
The Bombay locust primarily feeds on species in the grass family (Poaceae). But they have been recorded feeding on a wide variety of plants, including major crops such as banana, coconut, maize, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane. They also damage other economically important crops like citrus, soybean, and cassava. Additional host plants include: banana (including Japanese banana Musa basjoo), bamboo, betel nut, bulrush millet, cashew, castor, Chinese cabbage, common millet, Conax canniformis, cowpea, cucumber, durian, fig, gardenia, ginger, ginger millet, groundnut, guava, jujube, mango, mulberry, mung bean, mustard, oil palm, Pandanus odoratissimus, pigeon pea, rambutan, rubber, sweet potato, talipot palm, tea, and tobacco.[3][2]
The locust primarily targets leaves and is particularly harmful to sugar cane, especially during drought years. Sugar cane varieties that are sensitive to drought are more vulnerable to damage, as this species actually prefers leaved that are wilting.[2]
Land-use change
In both Thailand and Malaysia, outbreaks of the Bombay locust have been closely linked to changes in land use, particularly deforestation for agriculture.[4] In Thailand, major outbreaks have occurred when forests were cleared for the cultivation of upland crops. These areas were often later abandoned, leading to the growth of secondary bush and tropical grasslands dominated by lalang grass, Imperata cylindrica. Similarly, in Malaysia, outbreaks have been associated with recently cleared primary forests. The locust tends to affect upland rice grown on dry land, while irrigated rice fields are usually spared.[2][5]
Pest status
This species is still a considerable agricultural pest today in Asia, although it has decreased in severity compared to outbreaks of the past.
Management
Although this species has been reported to be infected with Entomophthora grylli, this fungus is not seen as a viable biological control agent because it causes high mortality in immature adult Patanga only during extended periods of heavy rainfall. E. grylli cannot be effectively used for control unless a strain tolerant to drier conditions is identified.[2]
Organophosphorus pesticides, such as fenitrothion, are commonly used on sugarcane in Japan, sometimes applied via unmanned helicopters. During large outbreaks in Thailand in 1963, aerial spraying with two US C-123 aircraft, alongside smaller local planes, proved effective.[6][2]
In sugarcane, drought-induced wilting leaves are more vulnerable to Bombay locust consumption. Therefore, proper irrigation to prevent wilting is a key strategy to reduce grasshopper damage. Additionally, controlling weeds around farms helps lower locust populations. Notably, early-stage nymphs are seldom found in sugarcane fields but are common in nearby grasslands, suggesting they may avoid sugarcane leaves because of their tough surface.[2] This behavior could also be driven by a nutrient preferences. See challenges to the nitrogen limitation hyphothesis.
Outbreaks
Major swarms were documented in India between 1787–1796 and 1901–1908, but have since occurred only sporadically.[1] Damage to coconut leaves on the Laccadive Islands of India has been recording since 1960.[1]
In Thailand, the Bombay locust is a significant agricultural pest as well as one of the most widely cultivated insect species for human consumption. The first major outbreak in Thailand started in 1963 and lasted for almost 20 years. It affected over 30,000 hectares, severely damaging maize and other crops like rice, sugar cane, banana, sorghum, orange, soybean, and mung bean and also weed species Saccharum spontaneum. Locust densities were around 200 per square meter. While once a widespread pest, this locust is not a major pest in Thailand today.[2]
Between 1978 and 1981, efforts began to promote its use as a food source, and it is now widely consumed.[7] In fact, some farmers even cultivate maize specifically to feed the locust.[8] This shift began after cases of illness, and possibly death, were linked to eating pesticide-contaminated locusts.[7] By 1983, 10 tons were consumed in the province.[9] in [8] Today, to meet growing demand, Thailand imports 170 tons annually from Cambodia.[10] in [8]
In Japan, small-scale outbreaks of the Bombay locust occurred on Okinawa (1971–1986) and South Daito Island (1970–1972), the latter alongside an outbreak of Locusta migratoria. In Indonesia, the Bombay locust swarms are serious pests of rice.[2]
Outbreaks in Malaysia have been recorded but not recently. In 1921 and 1952 around 40 ha of rice was destroyed.[1]
Minor damage by this species occurs in Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Bangladesh. [1]
Media coverage
Associated organizations
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Resources
| Title | Author(s) | Year | Geographic purview | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CABI Green Muscle education videos | Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International | 2021 |
Specimen contributors for this species
Natural history collections are built by people. The specimens that document this species were collected in the field, preserved in collections, and identified by generations of researchers and naturalists. Bionomia helps make these often-overlooked contributions visible by linking specimen records to the people behind them.
The contributors shown here are drawn from specimen records made available through GBIF and attributed to individuals by Bionomia. Each list shows up to the 20 people with the most specimens for this species, ranked from most to fewest.
Collected by
These people collected specimens of this species in the field, helping build the physical record of where and when it has occurred.
- Nicole Kearney — 6 specimens collected
- Erica Krimmel — 1 specimen collected
Identified by
These people examined specimens and determined their taxonomic identity—an essential step in turning a collected specimen into a useful biodiversity record.
- 태우 김 — 7 specimens identified
- Nicole Kearney — 6 specimens identified
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 COPR (1982) The Locust and Grasshopper Agricultural Manual. London: Overseas Pest Research. 335-339.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Tsurui K and Tatsuta H (2019) Bombay Locust Patanga succincta (Johannsson, 1763) (Acrididae). In: Lecoq M, Zhang L (Eds) Encyclopedia of pest Orthoptera of the world. China Agricultural University Press, Beijing, China, pp. 185–189.
- ↑ Roffey J (1979) Locusts and Grasshoppers of Economic Importance in Thailand. London: Locusts and grasshoppers of economic importance in Thailand.
- ↑ Le Gall M, Overson R, Cease A (2019) A global review on locusts (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and their interactions with livestock grazing practices. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7: 263. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00263
- ↑ Bullen FT (1966) Locusts and grasshoppers as pests of crops and pasture—a preliminary economic approach. Journal of Applied Ecology: 147–168. https://doi.org/10.2307/2401671
- ↑ Roffey J (1968) The occurrence of the fungus Entomophthora grylli Fresenius on locusts and grasshoppers in Thailand. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 1: 237–241.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Yen AL (2015) Insects as food and feed in the Asia Pacific region: current perspectives and future directions. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 1(1): 33–56. https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2014.0017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Hanboonsong Y, Jamjanya T, Durst TB (2013) Six-legged livestock: Edible insect farming, collection and marketing in Thailand. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.
- ↑ Lewvanich A, Chunram S, Chareontesprasit N, Hanboonsong Y (1999) Diversity of edible insects in the North and North-east of Thailand. In: Research Reports on Biodiversity in Thailand. Biodiversity Research and Training Program. [In Thai]
- ↑ Ratanachan N (2009) Edible insects and scorpion in Thailand–Cambodian border Rong Kluea market town, Sa Kaeo Province. Kamphaengsaen Academic Journal 80(1): 20–28. [In Thai]