Locust

Locusts are a group of certain species of short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae that have a swarming phase. These insects are usually solitary, but under certain circumstances they become more abundant and change their behaviour and habits, becoming gregarious.

Biology

Locusts have two phases, the solitary phase and the gregarious phase. In the solitary phase, they are innocuous, their numbers are low, and they do not pose a major economic threat to agriculture. However, under suitable conditions of drought followed by rapid vegetation growth, serotonin in their brains triggers a dramatic set of changes: they start to breed abundantly, becoming gregarious and nomadic (loosely described as migratory) when their populations become dense enough.

Species

There are several species of locusts, including the Desert Locust, the Migratory Locust, and the Red Locust. Each species has its own unique characteristics and behaviours.

Impact on agriculture

Locusts are considered one of the most destructive pests in the world. They can consume their own weight in food in a day, and a small swarm can consume the same amount of food in a day as about 10 elephants, 25 camels, or 2,500 people. This can lead to devastating effects on crops and food security.

Control

Control of locusts takes the form of preventive and reactive measures. Preventive measures aim to stop swarms from forming and spreading, while reactive measures, such as the use of pesticides, are used to control swarms that have already formed.

See also

• Grasshopper
• Insect migration
• Pest (organism)

Locust Resources
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