This topic is very useful for msc 4th sem students. Thank you

1. LOCUST MIGRATION AND
SWARMING
Presented by
Aparna S. Sayam
Department of zoology
Vidhyabharti college selloo
M.Sc. lVth sem (2022-2023)

2. CONTENTS

3. INTRODUCTION
◼ Locusts are the major agricultural pests
of the world.
◼ Out of 50000 different species of
grasshoppers,those which can live in two
different phases solitary and gragarious
phase are called locusts.
◼ Locusts are the short horned
grasshoppers with highly migratory habit
marked polymorphism and varacious
feeding behaviour.

4. Taxonomy :- Phylum - Arthopoda
Class - Insecta
Order - Orthoptera
Family - Acrididae
Identification of Locust :-
I. Large size insect. Wings are colourless
II. Body length from 35 -50 mm for males and 45-55 mm for
Females.
III. The colour can vary but its usually green brown yellowish
green or grey.
IV. The mandibles are dark purple to black.
V. Long distance migration 100-5000 km.

5. Distribution:- Locust are adapted to live in hot and
dry contries.
✓ Europe
✓ Africa
✓ Madagaskar
✓ Australia
✓ Central and South
Eastern Asia
✓ New Guinea
✓ New Zealand
✓ Arabian and Indo-Pak region

6. Species Found in
India:-
◼ Desert locust
(Schistocerca gragaria)
◼ Migratory locust
(Locusta migratoria)
◼ Bombay locust
(Nomadacris succincta)
◼ Tree locust
(Anacridium sp.)

7. Locust Phase:-
Solitary Phase Gragarious Phase
Behave independently Behave as a cohesive unit
Repelled from other locusts Attracted to conspeciific
Walk slowly with creeping Walk rapidly
Active mostly at night Active mostly at day
Diet restricted Diet broad

9. Life cycle of locust:-
I. Incomplete metamorphosis.
II. Female lays eggs in a hole in damp, warm or sandy soil called
a pod usually at a depth of 2-10 cm.
III. Each pod contain 60-80 pale yellow banana-shaped eggs 5-6
mm long.
IV. Collection of eggs pods laid by a number of locusts is termed
as Egg Bed.
V. Eggs hatch in 14-20 days .
VI. 5 nymphal instars and nymphs take 4-8 weeks to complete
development.
VII. Adult is the final stage. Locusts at this level have fully pledge
wings and can fly without problem.

10. VIII. Adults appear from June to July. Usually at the end of July.
IX. Life span of adult is almost 8 weeks (Female start laying eggs
2-3 weeks later).

11. Breeding season of Desert Locust :-
◼ Winter breeding (Nov. To Dec.)
◼ Spring breeding (Jan. To June)
◼ Summer breeding (July to October)

12. ⚫ Smell and sight of the other locusts.
⚫ Hind leg being touched.
⚫ Guaiacol is one of the main components of the
pheromone that causes locust swarming.
⚫ Serotonin enhances solitariness phase transition of
migratory locust.
⚫ Gragarious adults (swarms) migrate in the direction
of the wind at the wind speed and can cover
distance of up to about 150 km/day.
What triggers to form
Swarm?

14. Locust Control :-
✓ Cultural control
✓ Mechanical control (Catching , flame throwers)
✓ Natural enimes - (Pastor roseus and Sturnus
vulgarius)
- Blister beetle , Ground beetle and crickets are egg
predators.
✓ Chemical control - Monochrotophos and
Cypermethrin like chemical compounds
- Aerial sprayers by drones
- Hand held sprayers

16. Acknowledgement
I would like to express my
sincere thanks to our H. O. D.
sir Dr. Ashish Tiple
Department of zoology
Vidhyabharti college seloo. Not
only for his guidance during my
presentation but more than that for his motivation
which was
must for the successful
completion of the presentation
work.

17. Thank You