A Study on Biological Characteristics of Ceracris fasciata

Ceracris fasciata mainly damages tropical clustered bamboo in Yunnan province.Biological characteristics of Ceracris fasciata were studied through laboratory rearing and field observation.It is found out that this locust species has one generation annually in Simao prefecture and the eggs are laid in soil to overwinter.The nymph of Ceracris fasciata develops five instars,living in groups and feeding on the grasses under the bamboo canopy.The emergence time for Ceracris fasciata is from late June to the mid of July.The adults begin to mate in early August and begin to oviposit in late August.The nymph sex ratio of female to male is 0.9:1.0.The major host species damaged by this locust species have been ascertained to be Dendrocalamus hamiltonii,D.brandissi D.membranaceus,Bambusa lapidea B.intermidia.The proposed control measures include clearing off the weed in bamboo forest,killing the eggs by soil plough,applying biotic pesticide at proper time and planting mixed forest composed of bamboo and other tree species.The common morphological features to identify both the nymph and adults of Ceracris fasciata are found and verified.