# Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) > A widespread species of locust that can form massive swarms and is a major agricultural pest across Africa, Asia, Europe and Australasia. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/migratory-locust/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Non-toxic.** Migratory locusts are not venomous and do not sting. They can pinch or nibble if handled roughly but bites are rare and not medically significant. Use gloves when handling large numbers; wash hands after contact to avoid minor irritation from body parts. **Pets:** Not toxic to pets. Large numbers could be an annoyance if eaten by pets; as with any prey item, do not encourage pets to consume large quantities of unfamiliar insects. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Locusta migratoria - Also called: African migratory locust, Oriental migratory locust - Order: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, crickets and katydids) - Family: Acrididae (Short-horned grasshoppers) - Size: Adults typically 35-60 mm body length (males smaller than females); wingspan larger - Colours: Green, Brown, Yellow, Black - Habitat: Open habitats with grasses or crops: savannas, pasture, agricultural fields, grasslands and disturbed ground suitable for egg-laying - Range: Broadly across Africa, Europe, Asia and parts of Australasia; present in many temperate and tropical regions of the Old World - Active: Warm seasons and daytime; activity peaks in warm months (spring to autumn in temperate zones); swarming often follows rainy periods in tropical regions - Lifespan: Several months as adults (typical adult life 1-6 months depending on climate and season) - Effect on plants: Pest species - Pest: yes ## Overview Locusta migratoria is a large, highly mobile grasshopper species capable of shifting from a solitary phase to a gregarious, swarming phase under crowding and environmental triggers. In its gregarious phase it forms dense migratory swarms that can travel long distances and consume large quantities of vegetation, causing major crop losses. It is native across much of Africa, Europe and Asia and extends into Australasia; several regional subspecies or population forms are recognized. The species' behaviour, colour and body proportions change between solitary and gregarious phases. ## How to identify it Adults are relatively large locusts with a robust body, large hind legs for jumping and fully developed wings that allow sustained flight. Colour varies with phase: solitary individuals are often green, brown or cryptically mottled, while gregarious-phase adults commonly show brighter, contrasting colours and darker markings. Typical identifying features include the saddle-shaped pronotum (ridge behind the head), well-developed wings that extend beyond the abdomen in adults, and the typical grasshopper body profile with powerful hind femora. - Size 35-60 mm body length with well-developed wings extending beyond the abdomen in adults - Saddle-shaped pronotum ridge behind the head typical of Locusta species - Colour variable: solitary individuals cryptic (green or brown), gregarious adults often show brighter contrasting colours and darker markings - Powerful hind femora for jumping and long hind wings used in sustained flight when gregarious ## Lookalikes - **Desert locust** (Schistocerca gregaria): S. gregaria has a small peg-like projection between the front legs (absent in Locusta), lacks the raised ridge on the pronotum, and gregarious adults are yellow to pinkish; its centre of distribution is North Africa, the Middle East and southwest Asia. - **Brown locust** (Locustana pardalina): Smaller (about 30-45 mm) and restricted to southern Africa, mainly the semi-arid Karoo; swarming adults and hoppers have different colour patterns from Locusta. ## Life cycle - **Egg pod:** Females lay egg pods (dozens of eggs) in soil or loose substrate; eggs develop through an incubation period that varies with temperature and moisture. - **Nymph (hopper):** Nymphs hatch resembling wingless adults and go through multiple molts (instars); when crowded they may form marching bands and display gregarious behaviour. - **Adult (winged locust):** After final molt nymphs become winged adults capable of sustained flight and long-distance migration in the gregarious phase. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Herbivorous: feed on grasses and broad-leaved plants; in dense groups will consume a wide variety of vegetation. - Adults eat: Herbivorous: feed on grasses, cereals and many crop plants; in swarms they consume leaves, stems and seed material. - Predators of the young: Birds, small mammals, reptiles, predatory insects, and parasitic wasps or flies - Predators of adults: Birds, bats, larger reptiles and mammals; humans also collect locusts as food in some regions ## Effect on plants and gardens Feeding on leaves, stems and seedheads of grasses, cereal crops and many other cultivated plants; in gregarious swarms they can strip vegetation and cause severe crop losses. ### How to get rid of it Integrated approaches work best: monitor populations and eggbeds, use timely mechanical controls (ploughing or draining eggbeds where practical), targeted biological agents (entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria where approved), and insecticides for emergency swarm control under guidance from agricultural authorities. Early detection and coordinated area-wide action are the most effective measures. For small local infestations, physical removal and habitat management (reduce bare soil for egg-laying, maintain healthy crop cover) help limit breeding. ## Where and when to find it Search open grassy areas, pasture, cereal fields and recently disturbed ground for eggbeds. Nymphs are found on vegetation and may form marching bands; adults are more visible on crops and during flight. - Best time: Warm months (spring to autumn in temperate zones); daytime for feeding and nymph marching, with flight often occurring during warm, windy conditions. - Tips: Use binoculars to observe flocks at a distance. Avoid handling dense groups; photograph wing and pronotum details for identification. Report large aggregations to local agricultural or pest-control authorities. ## Fun facts - Locusta migratoria is one of the most widely distributed locust species in the world, occurring across large parts of Africa, Europe, Asia and Australasia. - The same species shows dramatically different colour and behaviour between solitary and gregarious phases — a classic example of phase polyphenism. - In many cultures people harvest and eat locusts; they are a traditional protein source where infestations occur. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are migratory locusts dangerous to people? No — they are not venomous and do not bite in a way that causes medical problems. Their main danger is economic: swarms can devastate crops and pastures. ### Do migratory locusts sting or bite? No stings and venom; they may nip if handled but bites are rare and not hazardous. ### Why are locusts in my field or garden? Locusts feed on vegetation. If local conditions (dry then rain, high population density) favour breeding, populations can build and nymphs or adults will move into nearby fields and gardens to feed. ### How do you get rid of a small group of locusts? For small groups, manual removal, barriers and habitat management (ploughing eggbeds, maintaining crop cover) can help. For larger outbreaks contact local agricultural authorities for coordinated control options. ### Can locust swarms travel long distances? Yes. In their gregarious phase adults can fly long distances carried by wind, enabling rapid spread of swarms over tens to hundreds of kilometres. ### Are locusts beneficial? Individually they are part of natural food webs, but as swarms they are overwhelmingly harmful to agriculture and livelihoods. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/201627), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_locust). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.