The National Service of Agrifood Health and Quality (SENASA) declared a Phytosanitary Alert in Patagonia due to the increase of the Tucura Sapo, an insect that is disrupting the natural balance of the grasslands.
The measure, formalized through Resolution 816/2025, aims to strengthen control, surveillance, and prevention actions throughout the region.
The growth of this species was particularly recorded in the provinces of Río Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz, where fields show signs of insect overpopulation. Its sustained presence affects forage availability and endangers the economy of rural communities that depend on livestock.
Although it does not pose a danger to human health, the Tucura Sapo has a high environmental impact by consuming large areas of native vegetation. This process disrupts food chains, reduces biodiversity, and weakens soils against erosion.
Origin and characteristics of the Tucura Sapo
The Tucura Sapo (Bufonacris claraziana) is an endemic insect of the Patagonian steppe. Its robust body, hind legs adapted for jumping, and long antennae make it resemble grasshoppers or locusts, although it belongs to a different group. Its popular name comes from its compact appearance and terrestrial behavior, similar to a toad.
This species thrives in arid and cold environments, where it finds hard and resistant grasses as its main food source. Its life cycle accelerates during mild and dry summers, when females lay their eggs in the soil, favoring massive outbreaks the following year.
As part of the Patagonian ecosystem, the Tucura plays a natural role in vegetation renewal and the food chain, serving as food for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. However, its balance depends on stable climatic conditions and the presence of natural predators.
The impact outside its habitat
When Tucura Sapo populations expand beyond their natural range, they can cause severe ecological imbalances. By colonizing areas not adapted to their presence, they compete with local species and consume essential resources for the native fauna.
In foreign ecosystems, their herbivorous activity can devastate grasslands and cause the loss of vegetation cover, reducing the soil’s ability to retain moisture. This process accelerates desertification and favors wind erosion, a constant threat in the Patagonian steppe.
Moreover, the advance of this pest disrupts the cycle of natural regeneration of grasses, directly affecting the food base of livestock and altering the migration patterns of birds that depend on these open environments.
Conservation and ecological function in its natural environment
In its original habitat, the Tucura Sapo maintains a balanced relationship with the environment. Its presence contributes to the recycling of organic matter and soil aeration, while its population is naturally controlled by birds of prey, foxes, and reptiles.
However, changes in land use, overgrazing, and rising temperatures favor its uncontrolled reproduction. These factors reduce the action of its predators and create favorable conditions for its massive proliferation.
Therefore, SENASA promotes monitoring and control measures to prevent out-of-control outbreaks that could compromise the Patagonian ecosystems. Preserving the natural balance of the Tucura Sapo in its environment is key to maintaining the environmental health and productive stability of the region.
