What Is It Called When Locusts Swarm?

Locusts are short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, which are typically solitary insects that can switch into a gregarious phase when conditions are right. These insects are distributed worldwide and can swarm for various reasons, including food availability, mating and reproduction, environmental factors, and geographic location. Out of the 7, 000 known varieties of grasshoppers, only 20 species become gregarious and form swarms.

The formation of initial bands of gregarious hoppers is called an “outbreak”, and when these join into larger groups, the event is known as an “upsurge”. Continuing agglomerations of upsurges on a regional level originating from a number of entirely separate breeding locations are known as “plagues”. The locusts shift from their solitarious phase when they are alone to the gregarious phase when they swarm. Experts believe the upsurge is likely tied to extreme weather events, such as powerful cyclones in 2018 dumped water in Oman.

Locust swarms are typically in motion and can cover vast distances, with some species traveling 81 miles or more a day. They can stay in the same direction, triggering a potentially devastating swarm. Swarming locusts in East Africa have caused damage over the last two years and led to massive control operations using harmful pesticides.

Swarming occurs when locusts’ numbers increase and they become crowded, causing a switch from a relatively harmless solitary phase to a locust phase polyphenism. This process involves environmental changes such as food shortages and crowding, leading to a large group of locusts moving together and eating and destroying crops.

What Is Another Word For Locust Infestation?

A large group of locusts, typically during an infestation, is most accurately called a "Plague" or a "Swarm." The term "Colony" is reserved for social insects like bees and ants, while "Herd" pertains to large mammals. A " plague" effectively conveys the widespread and destructive nature of such infestations, while "swarm" describes a substantial, moving group of insects, aptly reflecting locust behavior in large numbers. Additional synonyms for locust-related occurrences include "invasion" and "outbreak," which can be interchanged with "plague" and "swarm."

Locusts are short-horned grasshoppers from the family Acrididae, known for their swarming phase, which typically happens under favorable conditions. Historically, locust swarms have been linked with severe economic distress and hardship. Instances of locust plagues have plagued countries like India, demonstrating their potential for devastation, particularly when coinciding with critical farming periods.

This phenomenon occurs as locusts, normally solitary, transition into vibrant swarms that threaten crops and agricultural stability. If current swarms spread across multiple borders and further infest global regions, they may be classified as a "plague." The dual nature of locusts, both agricultural pests and sources of food, underscores their complex role in ecosystems and economies.

How Long Did It Take A Locust Swarm To Reach Great Britain?

In 1954, a locust swarm journeyed from northwest Africa to Great Britain, and in 1988, another swarmed from West Africa to the Caribbean, traveling over 3, 100 miles in 10 days. These swarms can devastate agriculture, prompting national emergencies, as seen in Somalia, and leading to potential famine. Swarm theory is being explored to understand locust behavior better and to devise prevention strategies. In the late 1920s, European powers collaborated scientifically to combat escalating locust threats, with Britain taking a lead role.

Under optimal conditions, swarms can travel up to 200 kilometers daily, consuming vast quantities of crops—enough to feed millions. Since June 2019, East Africa has faced one of the worst locust plagues in decades, with swarms reportedly consuming 1. 8 million tonnes of vegetation daily. Notably, in 1875, locusts formed the largest recorded swarm, measuring 1, 800 miles long and 110 miles wide. Currently, regions like East Africa, Pakistan, and the Arabian Peninsula are experiencing significant locust invasions, exacerbated by favorable breeding conditions over the past two years.

Although historic swarms, like those crossing the Atlantic or causing aviation disruptions, have occurred, the magnitude and frequency of recent swarms are alarming. While most Schistocerca species are non-swarming, the genetic potential for swarming persists in their lineage. Consequently, swarms can vary dramatically in size, from less than a square kilometer to hundreds of kilometers, and can devastate entire fields within moments, exemplified by the severe outbreaks in Ethiopia.

How Long Does A Locust Swarm Last?

Cuando emergen, las langostas son ninfas no voladoras y pueden ser solitarias o gregarias. Estas ninfas pueden cambiar entre fases de comportamiento antes de convertirse en adultos voladores en un intervalo de 24 a 95 días. Los enjambres de langostas suelen estar en movimiento y pueden cubrir grandes distancias, viajando más de 81 millas al día. Su duración típicamente es de cuatro a seis semanas, pero las plagas pueden persistir por años, generando múltiples generaciones de langostas en modo de enjambre. La duración de un enjambre puede variar significativamente, afectada por la disponibilidad de alimento, condiciones climáticas y densidad poblacional.

Entre las especies que se comportan como langostas, se encuentran la langosta australiana (Chortoicetes terminifera) y la langosta del desierto (Schistocerca gregaria), notable por su amplia distribución en África del Norte, Medio Oriente y subcontinente indio. Las langostas suelen vivir entre tres y cinco meses, durante los cuales las hembras pueden poner cientos de huevos.

El control de la langosta del desierto es crucial para la seguridad alimentaria, siendo esta una de las plagas migratorias más destructivas para agricultores de pequeñas parcelas, especialmente en África y Asia. Desde finales de 2019, vastos enjambres han devastado cultivos en estas regiones. Las migraciones históricas de langostas han ocurrido, como aquella desde el noroeste de África hasta las Islas británicas en 1954.

Cabe mencionar que una generación de langostas puede aumentar veinticinco veces en tres meses, lo que explica la rápida proliferación de los enjambres. Aunque un enjambre puede tener un impacto marginal en la producción agrícola nacional, los efectos locales pueden ser devastadores. Los esfuerzos de control han incluido el uso extenso de pesticidas.

Why Do Locusts Swarm?

Once locusts enter a "gregarious" phase, they actively seek the company of others, leading to explosive reproduction and the formation of massive swarms. High rainfall triggers this swarming behavior by providing lush vegetation for wingless nymphs, or "hoppers," which results in overcrowding. Experts link these upsurges to extreme weather events, such as powerful cyclones in 2018, which caused sudden rainfall and flooding that grouped locusts together.

This is an evolutionary adaptation to sudden environmental changes. When conditions shift from drought to rapid vegetation growth, serotonin levels in locusts' brains lead to significant behavioral changes. Billions of these locusts can form swarms extending over several hundred square kilometers, capable of devastating crops. As a notorious global pest, locust swarming remains a mystery, particularly regarding the chemical signals that attract them to form such large aggregates during optimal conditions.

What Is A Group Of Locusts Called?

Clustered nouns, also known as collective nouns, signify groups of animals. For instance, the term "pack" refers to a group of dogs, while locusts can be collectively termed a "plague," "cloud," or "swarm" of locusts. According to the U. S. Geological Survey, a "plague" describes a group of locusts, and a "cloud" is used for grasshoppers. Locusts are specific phases of short-horned grasshoppers from the family Acrididae, typically solitary but gregarious in certain conditions. Although there are no taxonomic distinctions between locusts and grasshoppers, their collective terminology varies, reflecting their behavior and potential destructive impact.

The use of these terms, such as "plague," has roots in historical and biblical contexts, particularly the Ten Plagues of Egypt that depicted locust swarms darkening the skies. Despite being feared and revered, locusts possess unique collective nouns that enhance their identity. The word "swarm," commonly associated with large, traveling groups, aptly describes the locusts' behavior when they move en masse.

The formation stages of locusts also have specific terms; initial gregarious bands are called "outbreaks," while larger groups forming later are referred to as "upsurges." Ultimately, the most prevalent collective noun for locusts remains "swarm," effectively encapsulating their behavior as they travel together, highlighting their nature as part of the larger grasshopper family, Acrididae.

Where Did A Desert Locust Swarm Come From?

Desert locust swarms have posed significant threats to agriculture since they reached England in 1869, likely originating from West Africa. Their long-distance dispersal is often linked to storm systems or jet-stream winds. The current plague can be traced back to May 2018, following Cyclone Mekunu's passage over the Rub' al Khali desert. Desert locusts can shift from solitary to gregarious behavior, triggered by serotonin release when they gather, leading to drastic changes in their appearance and behavior.

Since June 2019, they have invaded various regions, including the Horn of Africa and South Asia, where they are consuming crops and threatening food supplies. Historically, these locust swarms have caused famine and starvation, as their sudden appearances can decimate vast agricultural areas. Approximately 8 million years ago, as Northern Africa transitioned to desert, migratory swarming locusts adapted to locate vegetation. Recent environmental stimuli, such as cyclones causing heavy rain in regions like Oman, Yemen, and the Horn of Africa, have fostered the conditions necessary for swarm formation.

Adult locusts can consume their body weight in food each day, leading to massive devastation of crops and threatening food security. In 2020, swarms have been reported in numerous countries, affecting millions and exacerbating food crises, particularly in East Africa.

How Did Migratory Swarming Locusts Evolve?

Approximately 8 million years ago, Northern Africa transitioned from tropical forests to desert, enabling migratory swarming locusts to move between vegetation oases or revert to a solitary phase if food and space were abundant. Locusts, a form of grasshopper, exhibit a unique density-dependent phenotypic plasticity, termed locust phase polyphenism, allowing them to form dense migrating swarms. Understanding the evolution of this transformative capacity remains largely unexplored and involves questions about how these insects evolved and what factors promoted their swarming behavior.

Andy Reynolds and colleagues suggest that locusts developed this clumping ability to evade predators. Their study focuses on gene families associated with migration and feeding that are specific to locusts, aiming to identify key genes in their adaptation. Swarming locusts utilize prevailing winds to reach collision zones of air masses, creating potential habitat through rainfall. The evolutionary track indicates that the African Schistocerca lineage emerged first, with trans-Atlantic migrations to the New World enabled by their capacity for extensive flights.

Swarming is triggered by positive feedback processes, where sight, smell, or touch induces behavioral gregarization, initiated by hormonal changes such as serotonin in their nervous systems. This gregariousness contrasts with their usual solitary behavior. Climate change is implicated as a significant driver behind the locusts' rapid adaptive evolution.

What Kills Locust Swarms?

To effectively combat locusts, it is crucial to identify and eliminate their eggs through systematic ploughing, harrowing, and digging. Creating 2′ x 2′ trenches around areas where eggs are laid can trap nymphs, the non-flying young locusts. The migratory locust, the most prevalent species globally, can either lead solitary lives or congregate in groups, transitioning between these states at any time. While local measures like these may prevent locusts from reaching specific areas, they often cannot halt swarm progress.

Currently, the primary control method is the use of insecticides sprayed from land or aircraft, which is a top priority for ensuring food security, as locusts are significant migratory pests. Recent studies evaluated the toxicity of a linseed oil and bicarbonate emulsion against swarming locusts and explored plant essential oils to enhance efficacy. In Somalia, biopesticides made from the fungus Metarhizium acridum are being utilized, targeting only locusts.

Additionally, researchers have identified a specific pheromone that locusts emit when they become toxic, which might aid in controlling swarms. Reporting indicates that enormous swarms can devour crops equivalent to the daily consumption of 35, 000 people. As swarms devastate regions like Kenya, Ethiopia, and beyond, chemical pesticides remain the most employed response amid the worst locust plague in 20 years affecting eastern Africa and parts of Asia.

What Does The Bible Say About Swarms Of Locusts?

Exodus 10:12 recounts God's command to Moses to stretch his hand over Egypt, leading to a locust swarm that devastates the land and crops. Locusts symbolize destruction and divine curse in the Bible, particularly depicted in the plagues of Egypt. In the book of Joel, God offers redemption, vowing to restore the years lost to the "great army" of locusts, indicating a cycle of judgment and restoration based on repentance. Revelation 9:3-10 illustrates locusts emerging from smoke, representing consequences of disobedience and God's judgment on humanity.

As a specific type of grasshopper, locusts change behavior and form swarms under favorable conditions, devastating agricultural areas. Scripture uses locusts to signify overwhelming numbers, as seen in Judges 6:5, where the Midianites are compared to locusts. The plagues of locusts in Egypt, detailed in Exodus, showcase their role as instruments of divine punishment. The imagery of swarming locusts evokes destruction, while also serving as warnings of impending calamity, as highlighted in Joel, where locusts represent both devastation and a call to repentance.

In Exodus 10:4-6, Moses warns Pharaoh of the locust plague unless he frees the Israelites. Joel 2:25-26 reassures that after repentance, God will restore what the locusts have consumed, illustrating God's mercy amid judgment. Locusts are a recurring theme throughout biblical prophecy, representing God's sovereignty and justice, with parallels found in the destruction and restoration cycles in both the Old and New Testaments.

In conclusion, locusts signify both divine judgment and the potential for redemption, encapsulating the biblical narrative of destruction leading to renewal through repentance. Passages highlight their role in the context of Israel's history and prophetic literature, affirming the theological insight that God can restore what has been lost to swarming locusts.