Locust plagues have been a threat to the agricultural stability of Africa. Large and recurring infestations are devastating. Locust eat enormous quantities of vegetation as larvae. As adults, they are capable of eating the equivalent of their body weight each day. They are strong flyers, highly mobile, and difficult to contain.
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Locusta migratoria - The migratory locust is the most common of the locust species and can be found throughout Africa and Asia. It is a polyphenic insect, a term describing an animal whose pigmentation and size varies in accordance to its gregarious or solitary phase and age. In high density populations, the migratory locust is small, yellow to orange in color, and has a black spotted pigmentation. In its solitary form, they are much larger and appear brown or green to match the surrounding vegetation.
