Desert Locust

The most destructive migratory pest in the world, desert locust swarms can contain billions of individuals covering hundreds of square kilometers and consuming their own body weight in vegetation daily. A single swarm of 1 km² contains approximately 40 million locusts and can eat the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. Locust plagues threaten food security across the Sahel, East Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.

Adults are large (60-75 mm), pale green to yellow grasshoppers in the solitary phase. Gregarious (swarming) adults turn bright yellow with dark markings. Nymphs (hoppers) are black and yellow in gregarious phase. Swarms are unmistakable — dense masses of flying insects darkening the sky.

• 1

  Swarms are unmistakable — dense clouds of flying locusts visible from kilometers away

• 2

  Hopper bands are dense groups of black-and-yellow nymphs marching in a coordinated front

• 3

  Solitary green grasshoppers in desert areas may be desert locusts in non-plague phase — report sightings to authorities

• 4

  Fresh egg-laying sites appear as patches of disturbed sandy soil with small holes

• Complete defoliation of all vegetation in the swarm path

• Stripped bark on young trees and stems

• Total crop destruction within hours of swarm arrival

• Hopper bands — dense groups of wingless nymphs marching across the ground

• Massive quantities of droppings (frass) covering vegetation and ground

Desert Locust can attack 9 crop species.