Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T05:29:28.054Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF ADULT GRASSHOPPERS (ACRIDIDAE) IN CROPS IN ALBERTA, 1918–1975

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

D. S. Smith  and
N. D. Holmes
D. S. Smith
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta
N. D. Holmes
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Annual surveys of the adults show that outbreaks of grasshoppers in cultivated crops in Alberta have occurred in 32 of 58 years. Five outbreaks have occurred, lasting from 3 to 14 years, interspersed by periods of low infestation lasting from 3 to 9 years. Some control measures, however, were required every year even during periods of low infestation. The highest recorded adult populations occurred in 1933, 1936, and 1962, and the lowest in 1952 and 1969.

During most periods with low populations, infestation were confined mainly to the area south of the Bow and South Saskatchewan rivers. When high populations occurred, the infested areas increased in size and extended north to the Battle River. The largest infested area covered 48,600 sq. miles and the smallest was 300 sq. miles.

Two species of grasshoppers, Camnula pellucida (Scudder) and Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabr.), generally predominated in separate regions. Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) predominated only during periods of low grasshopper infestation. Melanoplus packardii Scudder was restricted in its range and became noticeable when the grasshopper outbreaks were declining.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 109 , Issue 4 , April 1977 , pp. 575 - 592
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Buckell, E. R. 1937. In Proc. int. Conf. on Locusts, Cairo, 1936.Google Scholar
Dempsey, H. A. 1973. A letter from Bishop Grandin. Alberta hist. Rev. 21(1): 8–11.Google Scholar
English, R. E. 1961. Farming in Alberta, Canada. Alberta Dep. Agric., Ext. Serv. Publ. 40.Google Scholar
Holmes, N. D., McNaughton, G. R., Phillips, W. E., Stothert, J. G., and William, J. (Eds.). 1976. Alberta farm guide. Alberta Dep. Agric., Edmonton334 pp.Google Scholar
MacCarthy, H. R. 1956. A ten-year study of climatology of Melanoplus mexicanus (Sauss.) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Saskatchewan. Can. J. agric. Sci. 36: 445–462.Google Scholar
Mitchener, A. V. 1953. A history of grasshopper outbreaks and their control in Manitoba 1799-1953. 84th A. Rep. ent. Soc. Ont.: 27–35.Google Scholar
Riegert, P. W. 1968. A history of grasshopper abundance surveys and forecasts of outbreaks in Saskatchewan. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 52.Google Scholar
Shotwell, R. L. 1935. Methods for making a grasshopper survey. J. econ. Ent. 28: 486–491.Google Scholar
Smith, D.S., Handford, R.H., and Chefurka, W.. 1952. Some effects of various food plants on Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus (Sauss.) (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Can. Ent. 84: 113–117.Google Scholar