Red Locust - Ecology

Ecology

Red locusts actively seek out moist environments such as seasonal floodplains. Grains are their primary food source, so grassy lowlands are prime habitat. They also like spending time in trees and thus prefer some tree cover.

Red locusts are sedentary when ample shelter, perches and food is available. In dry years, when the amount of suitable habitat is reduced population densities increase. If the population density increases past a threshold, the locusts will transform into their gregarious phase, changing their behaviour and anatomy. When gregarious, red locusts keep together in large swarms and fly with the wind in daylight hours, looking for more food. The higher temperatures during daylight enable gregarious locusts to travel longer distances by flying longer and higher, aided by thermal lift. A swarm will rarely move more than 20–30 km in a day. In contrast, solitary locusts prefer to fly in the dark and do so alone .

Compared to their solitary phase, gregarious red locusts also have:

• reduced lifespan
• more markings
• 6 instar stages rather than 7
• longer sexual maturation
• larger and heavier young, although they lay fewer eggs

Swarming females often lay eggs at night. Their youngsters immediately behave gregariously and are capable of "hopping" hundreds of metres every day.