10.06.2026, 00:10
Kazakh and Chinese Scientists Tested a Biopesticide Against Moroccan Locusts
The environmentally safe product demonstrated high biological effectiveness under field conditions
A series of field trials of a new-generation biological product designed to combat Moroccan locusts has been completed in the Turkistan Region. The research confirmed the high effectiveness of an environmentally friendly solution developed on the basis of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae.
The trials were carried out as part of the international project titled “Research and Demonstration of Fungal-Based Technologies for the Prevention and Control of Locust Populations in Transboundary Breeding Areas.” The study involved specialists from the Zhiembayev Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine together with scientists from the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Field tests were conducted on pasturelands in the Kazygurt District of the Turkistan Region. The biological agent used in the study was a preparation based on the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, which is considered an effective and environmentally safe alternative to conventional chemical insecticides.
To assess the effectiveness of the product, treated locusts were placed in special field cages containing 20 individuals each. Additional control groups were formed one day after treatment. Throughout the observation period, researchers recorded pest mortality rates on a daily basis.
The first signs of fungal infection were observed on the third day after treatment. By the fifth day, mortality rates had reached 70–80%, and by the ninth day, complete mortality of all individuals in the experimental groups had been recorded.
The Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus) is considered one of the most dangerous locust species, capable of causing significant damage to agricultural crops and pasturelands. As a result, the development of biological plant protection methods is regarded as one of the priority areas in the environmental modernization of the agro-industrial sector.
According to the researchers, the results demonstrate the high biological effectiveness of the product and confirm the potential of entomopathogenic fungi as a tool for controlling locust populations without creating additional chemical pressure on the environment.
The next phase of the project will involve expanding the trials to different climatic zones of Kazakhstan. Scientists also plan to develop practical recommendations for integrating this technology into locust monitoring and control systems.
