Migratory Locust Migration Facts

Location/Distance

• Locusts are found all over the world but the most studied groups are found in Africa and Asia.

• The distance they travel during migration depends; it could be up to thousands of kilometers.
  
  

Mating

• The locusts mate, and then the female stores sperm in her abdominal sac.

• During spring and early summer the females lay eggs in moist, soft sand.
  
  

Feeding

• Locusts feed on low plants and shrubs.

• When swarming, they will attempt to feed on each other.

• They must maintain a balance between protein and salt by eating selectively.

• When swarming, they eat plants that are toxic to predators and display warning coloration.
  
  

Migration Cues

• After they reach adulthood they begin getting cues to migrate.

• They disperse in search of mates and a new habitat to avoid competition.

• Gregarious phase - dense population swarming

• They move during day and perch at night.

• They must maintain the balance between salt and protein.
  
  

Navigational Mechanisms

• They are always in search of food so they migrate according to where there is food.

• They are often observed moving with the direction of the wind.

• An alternate hypothesis - back and forth (not proven)