Locusts are short-horned grasshoppers belonging primarily to the order Orthoptera and family Acrididae that exhibit density-dependent phase polyphenism, transitioning between solitarious and gregarious phases. In their gregarious phase, they form large, migratory swarms driven by neuroendocrine and sensory mechanisms responsive to crowding, tactile stimulation, and olfactory cues. Locusts possess mandibulate mouthparts adapted for phytophagy, saltatorial hind legs for jumping, and two pairs of wings enabling long-distance flight. Their life cycle is hemimetabolous, comprising egg, nymphal instars, and adult stages, with developmental rates strongly influenced by temperature and moisture, and they serve as important model organisms in studies of population dynamics, neurobiology, and phenotypic plasticity.
Animal communication can look wildly different—flashing lights, chirping calls, croaking songs and elaborate dances. But new research from Northwestern University suggests many of these signals share a surprising feature: ...
Ecology
Apr 15, 2026
0
93
Going to the grocery store these days can be a painful experience, with record-high price hikes biting into Canadian food budgets. However, as many societies around the world already know, a cheap, plentiful source of protein ...
Ecology
Mar 17, 2026
0
12
"They're very destructive when there's a lot of them, but one-on-one, what's not to love?" says Arianne Cease. She's talking about locusts.
Ecology
Jan 15, 2026
0
34
