Migration monitoring of Ascia monuste (Lepidoptera) and Schistocerca cancellata (Orthoptera) in Argentina using RMA1 weather radar

Abstract

The meteorological polarimetric radar RMA1 located in the city of Córdoba was used for a nonconventional phenomenon detection. Massive migrations of both Ascia monuste during early summer of 2015 and Schistocerca cancellata during late winter of 2017 were characterized by means of polarimetric variables (correlation factor ρhv and reflectivity factor ZH). The butterfly swarms show a pulsating behavior as a consequence of biological needs. The highest altitude detected was 2400 m msl. The correlation factor confirms the biological characteristic of the echo. The locust swarm migration shows a different pattern in several ways. First, it has a more uniform aspect regarding its displacement. Second, the locusts were observed to attain altitudes of 1700 m msl. Third, the correlation coefficient for the locust case showed regions with high values, which are different from the low value areas. It is concluded that radar observations of insect species may result in useful biological criteria for the government to asses areas that need to be protected for agricultural production.