Desert Locust
ExploreInsects
Desert Locust
Schistocerca gregaria
Desert Locusts are grasshoppers that live in dry places. They can travel long distances in search of food!
Habitat: Deserts and arid regions
Appearance
The Desert Locust is a medium-sized insect, typically brownish-yellow in its solitary phase, often turning bright yellow with black markings when it swarms. It has powerful hind legs for jumping and large, veined wings that allow for long flights.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOrthopteraFamilyAcrididaeGenusSchistocerca
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
A single swarm can contain billions of locusts, stretching for many kilometers!
Locusts have ears on their belly, which helps them detect other locusts nearby!
Their color changes from green to yellow and black when they are about to swarm!
They can fly non-stop for up to 17 hours, crossing vast deserts and oceans!
Special abilities
Ability
Swarm Transformer
Desert Locusts can change from solitary individuals to vast, destructive swarms that helps them migrate and find food in huge numbers.
Ability
Endurance Flyer
Desert Locusts have powerful wings and strong muscles that helps them fly for days across continents without rest.
Ability
Rapid Reproducer
Desert Locusts can lay hundreds of eggs in their lifetime that helps them increase their numbers quickly during outbreaks.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 80-100 mm
- Size
- 30-50 mm
- Lifespan
- 75-150 days
- Flight Speed
- 20 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
They munch on almost any plant, from grasses to valuable farm crops like wheat and maize.
Primary Foods
- grasses
- wheat
- maize
- barley
- date palm
- cotton
Foraging Method
- Grazing
Ecological connections
eaten by
White Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Large birds like storks consume millions of locusts during outbreaks.
eaten by
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Kestrels efficiently hunt locusts from the air as a food source.
eats
Common Wheat
Triticum aestivum
They devastate fields of wheat, a critical food crop for humans.
eats
Maize
Zea mays
Locust swarms consume maize, causing significant agricultural damage.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Migratory
Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.
Also known as
Schistocerca gregaria
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Desert Locust's wingspan?
80-100 mm
How big is Desert Locust?
30-50 mm
How long does Desert Locust live?
75-150 days
How fast can Desert Locust fly?
20 km/h
What does Desert Locust eat?
They munch on almost any plant, from grasses to valuable farm crops like wheat and maize.
Where is Desert Locust usually found?
Deserts and arid regions
How does Desert Locust hunt?
Grazing
How many legs does Desert Locust have?
6
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
