Abstract
Desert Locust "Schistocerca Gregaria", is a pest that destroys human and livestock food sources, leading to a crisis in food security. Chemical spraying methods, in addition to their high costs, contribute to food chain contamination and the resilience of these insects to pesticides. The first comprehensive field study in 2020, conducted in a southern region of Iran under the influence of Desert Locust attacks, employed traps to capture these insects. The study utilized random sampling for data collection and employed non-parametric tests for data analysis. Additionally, the experiences of hunters were assessed using a case study approach and compared to other similar studies. The results revealed that the number of Locusts on the experimental land was approximately − 27% compared to the control land, while the number of trapped Locusts was 3170% higher on the experimental land. Moreover, the number of Locusts in the traps was 4334% higher than on the experimental land. Regarding weight, the weight of Locusts on the control land was approximately 22% greater than on the experimental land. Furthermore, the weight of Locusts captured in traps was 4705% higher than on the experimental land and 3644% higher than on the control land. By the end of the research (on the fifth day), the harvested product weight from the control land was 2635 kilograms, whereas the experimental land yielded 6045 kilograms (2.3 times more). The findings of this study demonstrate that locust hunting, beyond preserving agricultural yields and reducing environmental pollution, leads to increased income for farmers and savings in water and energy consumption. Given these benefits, it is recommended that this method be tested in other regions facing locust invasions.