Epacromius tergestinus

Epacromius tergestinus belongs to the order Orthoptera, family Acrididae. It is a specialized grasshopper species often found in coastal regions, saline soils, and damp meadows.

Adult insects reach a length of 16 to 28 mm. Their coloration ranges from grayish-brown to greenish, providing effective camouflage against soil and dried vegetation.

These insects have well-developed wings, enabling them to migrate over significant distances when seeking food sources or favorable breeding grounds.

Females deposit eggs in the soil, protected within a pod. The success of egg development depends heavily on the moisture levels and temperature of the soil environment.

The species is commonly found in southern regions, where it can colonize agricultural fields that are adjacent to their natural breeding habitats.

This pest primarily damages cereal and grain crops, including wheat, barley, millet, and corn, as well as various technical agricultural plants.

The grasshoppers feed on leaves, stems, and reproductive parts of the plants. Heavy feeding during the early stages of plant growth can stunt development.

Damage to ears or spikes during the reproductive phase can lead to significant yield losses, resulting in empty or undersized grains.

High population densities can lead to total destruction of plant patches, especially during dry years when natural vegetation is sparse.

Damaged plants exhibit reduced resistance to pathogens, making the fields more susceptible to secondary fungal and bacterial infections.

The insect overwinters in the egg stage, safely tucked inside an egg pod beneath the soil surface, which protects the offspring from winter temperatures.

Nymphs typically emerge in late spring or early summer, a period that coincides with the active tillering and growth phases of cereal crops.

Development involves five nymphal stages, during which the insect grows through molting until it reaches the adult (imago) stage.

Adults are most active during the summer months, particularly in hot, dry weather conditions, which favor their rapid movement and feeding habits.

The lifecycle concludes in late summer and autumn when mating occurs and females lay eggs in the soil, ensuring the next generation survives the winter.

The first signs of infestation include irregular holes and jagged edges on leaves, which are characteristic of grasshopper feeding patterns.

Visual observation during the day reveals the presence of jumping insects, which disperse quickly when approached by machinery or field personnel.

Excrement deposits on foliage and stripped stems are reliable indicators of high infestation intensity within the affected field.

In cases of severe infestation, circular or irregular patches of stripped vegetation appear across the field, indicating concentrated feeding areas.

Regular monitoring using an entomological sweep net is necessary to determine population density and to make timely intervention decisions.

Effective management begins with proper agrotechnical practices, such as deep autumn plowing, which destroys overwintering egg pods in the soil.

Maintaining clean field edges, roadsides, and adjacent areas by removing weeds helps to eliminate the primary breeding reservoirs for the pest.

When the economic threshold is exceeded, chemical control methods using approved insecticides should be employed to reduce the population.

It is recommended to apply treatments during the early nymphal stages, as younger insects are more vulnerable to insecticides and have limited mobility.

• Implementation of crop rotation.
• Thorough soil cultivation prior to planting.
• Targeted insecticide applications based on threshold monitoring.
• Use of biological control agents where applicable.