Diapause termination and post-diapause development in the Mediterranean locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Orth., Acrididae) under field conditions

Diapause termination and post-diapause development of the Mediterranean or Moroccan locust, Dociostaurus maroccanus, were studied in the permanent breeding area of la Serena (Badajoz) in southern Spain during 1991-92 and 1997-98. By the second half of autumn, diapause development has been completed and the eggs have acquired the ability to resume morphogenesis, catatrepsis and hatching. The last week of November was determined to be the critical time to begin recording degree-days as a basis for the development of hatch prediction models. Using a previously developed temperature model for embryonic development of D. maroccanus, accurate predictions of hatching were performed for the two study seasons. The results of this investigation will facilitate in developing an efficient system for the management of the Moroccan locust.