Locust

Locust is the name given to the migratory phase of some large grasshoppers. They are known for their large swarms that can have a devastating effect on vegetation and specifically crops.

The species breed quickly and the nymphs group together. When they reach adulthood they rapidly eat all the food in a specific area, become crowded, and then fly to new areas in huge swarms that can contain more than 60 million individuals.

A solitary-phase locust (Schistocerca gregaria).
Photograph by Christiaan Kooyman.

Related terms

• Herbivore
• Orthoptera

Related pages on this web site

• Grasshoppers and Crickets - Order Orthoptera

See other words beginning with L