Common name : Migratory locust
Scientific name : Locusta migratoria
Family : Acrididae
Native to : Worldwide distribution
Interesting fact : Throughout history, there have been records of locust plagues, where a huge swarm of locusts appear almost instantly with a slight change in wind direction or weather.
Locusts are nothing but short-horned grasshoppers that are in the ‘swarming’ stage. These swarms are a result of overcrowding. Due to crowding, grasshoppers change behaviorally and morphologically. Serotonin is released by the locust’s nervous system making it feel attracted to other locusts and also, makes it change colour, eat more and breed easily.
