How Often Do Locusts Migrate?

Locusts are highly mobile insects that can fly at speeds of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour, with swarms traveling 5 to 130 km or more in a day. They can breed abundantly under drought and rapid vegetation growth, becoming gregarious and nomadic. African desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) crossed the Atlantic from West Africa to the Caribbean in 1988, a non-stop flight of about 5000 km. Some locust species become migratory, flying long distances across borders in search of food. The most devastating example is the desert locust, which gathers billions of solitary locusts in swarms the size of major cities and devastating crops around the region. Locust swarms have been a cause of famine and have been observed flying with prevailing winds, potentially generating suitable habitats. The migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) is the most widespread locust species, occurring throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Desert locusts usually fly with the wind at a speed of about 16-19 km/h depending on the wind, and can travel about 5-130 km or more in a day. This suggests that trans-oceanic locust migrations have been occurring for at least 30 million years, likely facilitated by the spread of grasslands. Locusts can stay in the air for long periods of time, such as crossing the Red Sea. Swarms migrate diurnally and are able to reach further and fly longer than solitary locusts, which migrate just after nightfall using different wind systems.

Do Locusts Migrate?

Locusts, part of the Acrididae family, are unique among grasshoppers due to their ability to change behavior and migrate over vast distances. Notable examples include the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), which is the most widespread species, found throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. These insects can travel significant distances, often covering 81 miles or more in a single day, and can maintain flight over long periods. When in their gregarious phase, locusts swarm and migrate collectively, taking advantage of prevailing winds to reach regions conducive to reproduction and suitable habitats.

This capability for migration is known as phase polyphenism, a form of phenotypic plasticity where locusts undergo changes in behavior and morphology in response to environmental conditions. Under optimal conditions, locusts aggregate into massive swarms that can devastate crops, consuming vast amounts of vegetation in the process. The migratory locust exhibits flight speeds of 15-20 km/h, and swarms can travel between 5 and 130 km daily.

A historically significant example of locust migration occurred in 1988 when African desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) flew across the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa to the Caribbean in a non-stop journey of about 5, 000 km. Throughout history, locusts have caused famine and human displacement, impacting agriculture and food security across various regions. Thus, the life cycle and migratory behavior of locusts continue to be a topic of interest for scientists and farmers alike.

What Was The Worst Locust Swarm In History?

The Locust Plague of 1874, also known as the Grasshopper Plague, occurred during the summer when Rocky Mountain locusts migrated across the Great Plains of the United States and Canada. This invasion spanned roughly 2, 000, 000 square miles and resulted in significant agricultural damage, costing millions of dollars. The swarms were so dense that they blocked sunlight, instilling fear in farmers, although a late snowstorm eventually reduced locust populations, allowing for crop replanting.

Historically, locust swarms have caused similar devastation worldwide, with multiple outbreaks documented. For instance, Dr. Albert Child of the U. S. Signal Corps noted locust swarms in 1875, further illustrating the phenomenon's persistent threat. Currently, desert locusts pose severe risks, affecting food supplies in East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent.

The recent outbreak in Kenya represents the worst infestation in 70 years, with millions of locusts arriving from neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia, leading to concerns about agricultural devastation, economic impact, and potential social unrest. Israel is also grappling with significant locust swarms originating from Egypt, creating various ecological and political challenges.

Factors like global warming are suspected to contribute to the frequency and intensity of locust outbreaks, enhancing conditions for breeding and reproduction. The devastating impact of locust swarms continues to be a pressing issue, particularly in arid regions where locust activity intertwines with agricultural stability and food security. Current reports highlight that these locust plagues may result in economic setbacks and threaten the livelihoods of farmers across affected regions. Such historical and ongoing events underscore the importance of understanding and mitigating the impacts of locust invasions.

Does Locust Do Migration?

Locusts, larger relatives of grasshoppers, can form vast swarms that cover long distances. Notable species include the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) and the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), both of which have been extensively studied due to their distribution. The migratory locust exhibits polyphenism, adapting between solitary and gregarious phases based on population density—higher densities trigger behavioral transformations toward gregariousness.

Locusts are remarkable flyers, capable of migrating thousands of kilometers, although trans-Atlantic flights are beyond their reach. This review highlights recent research on locust phase changes, indicating differences in energy and metabolism between solitary and gregarious forms.

As locusts transition to adulthood, they can become gregarious under appropriate conditions, demonstrating flexible behaviors that aid in finding refuges and responding to environmental changes. This gregarious phase is influenced by their ecological habits, especially during favorable temperatures, prompting swarms to depart rapidly. It often takes multiple generations before gregarious locusts form large migrating swarms capable of extensive agricultural damage.

The migratory locust has a more extensive range than any other acridid, thriving in grasslands across Africa and Eurasia. Locust swarms, caused by both environmental triggers and social behaviors, pose significant threats to crops, leading to famine and human migration throughout history. They differ from grasshoppers by their migratory nature and ability to alter behaviors and habits, enabling them to travel great distances in search of suitable habitats. Overall, understanding locust behavior, migration patterns, and their impact on agriculture remains crucial for managing potential outbreaks.

What Is The Lifespan Of A Locust?

The life expectancy of adult locusts typically ranges from eight to ten weeks. During this period, male and female locusts mate, and females lay eggs, initiating the cycle anew. Generally, the entire lifespan from egg to adult spans about three to five months, influenced by species and environmental factors. Locusts belong to the family Acrididae, which includes short-horned grasshoppers known for their swarming behavior. While usually solitary, locusts can change their behavior when population density increases, leading to group gatherings that can invade vegetation and agricultural fields.

An important developmental sequence in locust life includes three stages: egg, hopper (nymph), and adult. Female locusts deposit eggs in clusters within moist sandy soil, leading to nymphs that eventually mature into adults. Adult locusts have an average lifespan of eight to ten weeks. They tend to mate shortly after reaching maturity, followed by the female laying eggs, thus perpetuating the life cycle.

Interestingly, the lifespan can differ among species, with desert locusts exhibiting a broader range of life expectancy depending on environmental conditions, sometimes living between three to six or even ten months.

Unlike insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, such as butterflies, locusts experience gradual development through their distinct life stages. Overall, the fascinating biology of locusts sheds light on their adaptability and potential agricultural impact due to their capacity to swarm.

How Frequent Are Locust Swarms?

Cada 8 semanas, surgen nuevas generaciones de langostas, con un incremento poblacional promedio de 20 veces. Estos enjambres en expansión perturban el suministro de alimentos y requieren importantes recursos para su control. Se espera que el cambio climático incremente la frecuencia de estos enjambres a través de eventos desencadenantes como ciclones e intensas lluvias, que aportan humedad a las regiones desérticas.

Las langostas del desierto son una de las plagas migratorias más destructivas, amenazando la seguridad alimentaria de pequeños agricultores en varias regiones de África y Asia, debido a su capacidad para viajar largas distancias; un enjambre puede recorrer más de 81 millas en un día. En 1988, un enjambre voló desde África Occidental hasta el Caribe, cubriendo más de 1, 000 millas.

Se estima que al menos 20 millones de personas están en riesgo de perder sus suministros alimentarios y medios de vida, según la FAO. Los enjambres pueden abarcar hasta 1, 200 kilómetros cuadrados y contener entre 40 y 80 millones de langostas por kilómetro cuadrado. Aunque los brotes de langostas han disminuido en frecuencia en las últimas décadas, pueden regresar en condiciones climáticas favorables. A pesar de los esfuerzos de control modernos, la amenaza de los enjambres sigue siendo significativa, con un solo enjambre consumiendo en un día lo mismo que 90 millones de personas.

What Is The Life Cycle Of A Migratory Locust?

The life cycle of the migratory locust, specifically the Locusta migratoria, involves several distinct stages, including egg, nymph, and adult forms. After a resting period in the soil, the eggs hatch within 10 to 24 days, producing nymphs. These nymphs, also referred to as hoppers, undergo development through five or six growth stages (instars) which can take between 26 and 61 days to complete. Under optimal conditions, the entire life cycle—from egg to adult—can be completed in about two months, allowing for two to three generations of locusts per year under ideal circumstances.

Once the nymphs have matured into immature adults, which takes an additional 30 days, they require a further 14 days to become fully mature and capable of laying eggs. Migratory locusts exhibit polyphenism, transitioning between solitary and gregarious phases based on population density. As crowding increases, locusts change characteristics such as pigmentation and size to adapt to their environment.

Adult locusts are primarily migratory, living about eight to ten weeks, during which they engage in mating and egg-laying activities. A female can produce 30 to 100 eggs per cycle, demonstrating an exponential breeding rate. These adults tend to gather in large swarms, invading agricultural areas and consuming vegetation.

The life cycle of locusts differs from that of other insects through direct or incomplete metamorphosis, as they do not have a pupal stage. The migratory locust also shows adaptability to different environmental conditions, rapidly breeding and expanding its population. Predators such as birds of prey pose threats to their survival.

This complex life cycle of the migratory locust presents significant challenges and opportunities for study in terms of pest management and ecological balance, as their rapid reproduction and migration pattern can lead to substantial agricultural damage.

Where Are The Locust Swarms In 2024?

In 2024, for the first time in 221 years, two broods of cicadas will emerge in 17 states across the U. S. Cicada Mania reports that Illinois and Indiana will be among the states to witness both Brood XIII, a 17-year brood concentrated in northern Illinois, and Brood XIX, a 13-year brood expected to emerge in the Southeast and Midwest. The emergence will begin in late April, with billions of cicadas appearing as part of a synchronized mating event.

Brood XIX will cover states including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Virginia. The cicadas spend most of their lives underground, surfacing primarily to avoid predators.

In addition to cicadas, new research suggests that climate change may expand locust swarming areas, potentially impacting regions such as Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and western India. A new early warning tool aims to enhance predictions and control of desert locust populations, which are critical to food security in Africa and Asia as they can devastate crops.

Locust swarms have been notoriously difficult to predict and control, with many outbreaks linked to heavy winds and rainfall in key agricultural regions. As these pests can travel long distances, improving locust management is crucial for smallholder farmers dependent on stable crop yields. In summary, both cicadas and locusts present unique ecological phenomena with significant implications for agriculture and biodiversity in 2024.