desert locust

The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is a destructive, migratory insect found in southwestern Asia and parts of northern Africa. Locusts are a type of short-horned grasshopper that can multiply rapidly and travel long distances in destructive swarms.12

Locusts exist in two phases: solitary and gregarious. The solitary phase is the normal state, where individuals are camouflaged, do not group together, and are sluggish. The gregarious phase is a response to crowding, characterized by distinct black and yellow or orange coloration, active behavior, and a tendency to form large groups.2

When locust nymphs mature in crowded conditions, they can shift to the gregarious phase. These swarms can be immense, with one recorded flight across the Red Sea estimated to be 5,000 square kilometers. Controlling locust plagues once they develop is extremely difficult, with methods including destroying egg masses, using traps, baits, and insecticides.2