Whether you want to keep locusts as pets or as food insects for your reptile, mantis or other pet, this article is for you. Here you will learn about locust care, with special attention to the common species Locusta migratoria and Schistocerca gregaria (the recommendations for them are similar). You will also learn how to breed them.
Migratory locust
Locusts belong to the order Orthoptera, more specifically to the suborder Caelifera. It is sometimes called a grasshopper, but this is a mistake. There are many species, the most famous of which are those that live in the desert and are mentioned in the Bible as one of the ten plagues of Egypt. Both species - Locusta migratoria and Schistocerca gregaria - live in deserts and belong to the locust family (Acrididae). Both reach about 7 cm in length.
Description and features
Nature has endowed the locust with an elongated body and six limbs, of which two pairs are short and weak, one (the back) is stronger and much longer. In some cases, there are specimens whose “height” approaches 15 cm.
This subspecies has a large head with clearly visible eyes. One pair of solid elytra covers 2 transparent wings, which are practically invisible when folded. Locusts belong to the long-existing order of Orthoptera, of which there are supposedly more than twenty thousand species.
Coloring usually has nothing to do with heredity; color is influenced only by the conditions in which the individual lives and the stage of its formation. Specimens coming from the same litter will be colored differently if they were raised in different conditions.
The stage of formation has a direct impact on how the insect looks - single insects are painted in camouflage shades (green-yellow or walnut), which are influenced by the region of residence. When a flock is formed, everyone acquires a color exactly the same as everyone else. Gender divisions are already disappearing at this time.
The speed at which the flock moves reaches 120 km per day. The locust in the photo looks like a grasshopper familiar to every child. In order not to make a mistake and not miss the appearance of a formidable dirty trick, you should pay attention to the following characteristic features:
- Locusts and grasshoppers are recognized primarily by the size of their antennae. The grasshopper's whiskers are not much larger than his own size, the locust has short whiskers, they are no more than his head;
- locusts have less developed forelimbs than grasshoppers;
- grasshoppers love the coolness of the night and begin to become active in the evening, and locusts are active during daylight hours;
- grasshoppers are loners, they never gather in large groups for self-preservation;
- the common grasshopper is a predator that eats only small insects, the locust is a plant eater (for the most part, it will indiscriminately eat everything it comes across).
Housing
It is easy for locusts to organize their housing. You need a container that is large enough, has some ventilation, and can be properly sealed to prevent escapes. Locusts can chew through fabric, so mesh terrariums and containers with gauze lids are not suitable for them. A faunarium, glass terrarium or plastic container with a metal mesh for ventilation will do. If you keep locusts as pets, a glass terrarium with a mesh lid will look good. If raising to feed reptiles or praying mantises, buy the more practical plastic container as it is lightweight and cheap. Make sure the container is large enough for all the locusts. The approximate size for a dozen adults is 50 x 50 x 30 cm. Bigger is always better.
Fill the bottom of the container with dry sand, dry oatmeal, or dry coconut substrate. Place dry twigs or sticks inside to provide additional seating surface. Food - grass and/or leaves - will also serve as both decoration and “perch”. Make sure the container is lit, either with a light bulb (see next section on temperature) or natural light. Direct sunlight falling on the container may heat it up too much, so be careful not to allow it to overheat.
Kinds
The most famous types of locusts are:
1. Migratory or Asian.
It is found in large quantities in European countries and in countries located in western Asia, in the Mediterranean territories of the African continent, in the countries of East Asia. The size of the body in an adult individual is usually 40-60 mm.
The wings have a barely noticeable grayish tone and darkened veins. The color follows the shades of the surrounding area - emerald-greenish, grayish-brownish or sand. The hind limbs of these insects are darker in color compared to the body.
2. Moroccan.
This species is distributed in the Mediterranean climate zone of northern Africa. You can see insects in the southern part of European countries, as well as countries located on the Balkan Peninsula and in southern Russia.
Adults are not large in size, in most cases they are no more than 20 mm, the color is usually inconspicuous, grayish-brownish. A distinctive feature by which they can be recognized is a light-colored pattern resembling a cross on the back and dark spots randomly located throughout the body.
3. Italian.
The main place of settlement is the countries of the Iberian and Apennine Peninsulas. You can meet insects in areas west of the Urals and in Asian countries, in the Altai Territory and in the countries of the Arab East.
The maximum size to which an adult insect grows is 40 mm. Individuals of the Italian locust have a brick or brownish color; lightish specks or stripes are clearly visible on the back.
4. Siberian filly.
It can be found in almost all regions of the Asian part of the Russian Federation (except for permafrost areas) and in Kazakhstan. A large number of Siberian fillies can be found in the northern territories of Mongolia and China, and the mountainous areas of the Caucasus. Mature individuals are relatively modest in size; their length is not often more than 25 mm. The color of the insects is brown with a brownish tint or a khaki shade.
5. Egyptian filly.
This species can be found in European countries, northern regions of the African continent, and Middle Eastern countries. This is one of the most impressive insects. Females can grow up to 60-70 mm. Male individuals are smaller, their body size is no more than 40-45 mm.
These locusts are usually painted the color of a mouse or the color of wet sand. The hind legs of the insect have a bluish tint, sometimes with the addition of yellow-red. A characteristic feature is clearly visible lines - black and white, they can be seen on the bulging eyes.
6. Blue-winged filly.
It lives in steppes and forest-steppe regions of Asia and Europe, the Caucasus, western regions of Siberia and Kazakhstan. Does not apply to species whose size is large. 20 mm is all that a pest with beautiful wings can grow to. The color of the insect is amazing.
The wings have a turquoise or rich blue color, on which a fancy pattern of thin strokes of dark color is clearly visible. The hind legs have small spines of a light shade and are tinted light blue.
7. Rainbow Locust.
Lives on the island of Madagascar. This is a very spectacular and attention-grabbing individual, but at the same time, it is extremely poisonous. All her organs are literally saturated with toxic and noxious substances, since she only eats plants that produce poisonous juice.
Favorite food is milkweed leaves and fruits. Her appearance is admirable - the whole range of colors is gathered on her wings, and this is understandable, because she lives among bright vegetation. The beauty has impressive dimensions - up to 70 mm.
Lifestyle and habitat
A distinctive feature of the locust is its ability to both live alone and gather in giant communities. If an individual is solitary, it behaves quite calmly, is sedentary and not voracious. Destructive consequences from its presence are usually not observed.
When food disappears, insects try to lay as many eggs as possible, from which gregarious individuals hatch, ready to move across vast spaces. These offspring are larger, and their wings are better adapted for long flights. Giant swarms of locusts sometimes contain up to half a billion individuals. Such flocks have amazing mobility and interact as a single organism.
It is believed that the signal for mass laying of eggs may be a lack of organic substances and amino acids in the body of individuals due to insufficient food in dry years.
Nutrition
Single individuals do not cause catastrophic damage to green spaces. Singles have a very moderate appetite. During their entire life, they eat no more than five hundred grams of green mass. The main problem is the locusts that have united in a swarm.
To replenish the energy balance and vitality, individuals gathered in a herd are forced to eat without stopping, otherwise they will die from thirst and lack of protein. The locust, finding itself in the company of numerous relatives, begins to show amazing gluttony. One individual is capable of absorbing about four hundred grams of green mass per day, but there are millions of them in a flock.
With a lack of protein in the body, insects begin to degenerate into predators, and the process of eating their own kind begins. In this case, the flock is divided into two symbolic subgroups, one of which runs ahead, and the second tries to catch up and eat. Both those escaping and those catching up eat everything in their path, completely destroying crops and gardens.
Locusts are pests . The multimillion-dollar community will leave behind bare ground with the occasional remnant of protruding stems. Individuals have a better appetite in the absence of heat (morning and evening).
Locust development stages
Representatives of the locust family have indirect embryo development .
The development of the embryo in the world of animals and insects is of two types:
- direct , when a child differs from its parents only in smaller size and underdeveloped organs (mammals);
- indirect , when a newborn child (larva) differs in appearance from its parents.
In insects, the second type of development is also divided into 2 types:
- complete metamorphosis (transformation), when females lay eggs, a larva hatches, grows until a certain period, then transforms into a pupa. This “puppet” period is called the resting stage. Inside the pupa, absolutely all vital organs are rebuilt and the adult appearance of the insect is formed. This metamorphosis is characteristic of butterflies, flies, wasps, and bees;
- incomplete metamorphosis : absence of a “pupal stage”; the larva immediately takes on the appearance of an adult insect over the course of several molts. This metamorphosis is characteristic of bedbugs, cockroaches, grasshoppers and locusts.
Therefore, the statement that the locust has a chrysalis is incorrect and is simply a fallacy.
Reproduction and lifespan
Locusts are oviparous insects and reproduce sexually. To attract a female, an enterprising male produces a specific hormone, by the smell of which the female searches for a suitable partner.
Attracted by the smell, she finds the male and tries to get as close to him as possible. The male individual attaches to the female and tries to deposit a capsule with sperm into the part of the posterior end of the abdomen (ovipositor). Mating often takes a long time and can last up to 13 hours.
The female leaves the ovipositor directly in the ground and covers it with a foamy liquid, which solidifies into a solid cocoon. One such clutch can contain 60-80 eggs. During her life, the female makes from six to twelve clutches, which contain up to four hundred eggs.
After twelve days, white larvae crawl out of such a cocoon and immediately begin to feed intensively. The larva goes through several stages of development and turns into an adult specimen in 35-40 days.
The lifespan of locusts depends on the climatic conditions of their habitat and can range from 7-8 months to 2 years. In areas with harsh winters, locusts die with the onset of frost. an insect similar to a locust on your territory , you should water the area as often as possible, since fillies do not reproduce well in high humidity.
It is best to treat plants with a liquid specifically designed to combat these insects. Animals that eat poisoned leaves should die within 2-3 days. Particular care must be taken to identify places where eggs may be laid, and try to prevent the appearance of larvae.
Locust control methods
Given the speed of movement, gluttony and complete destruction of green plants along the route of the swarm of locusts, chemical control measures are used to destroy them, especially over large areas.
In a country house or local area, the fight against locusts is mainly preventive and proactive and begins with agrotechnical measures, the thoroughness and timely implementation of which helps to significantly reduce the number of pests and prevent epiphytotic damage to the green world of plants.
Migratory locust, or Asian locust (Locusta migratoria). © David Dexter
Agrotechnical measures
In areas prone to locust attacks, late digging of the dacha or house area is necessary, during which the egg capsules with locust eggs are destroyed.
During early autumn digging, deep spring harrowing is recommended. This technique damages the egg capsules laid after early digging of the site.
When conducting alternative agriculture, it is necessary to tinn unused areas, which prevents the formation of egg capsules and the laying of eggs by female locusts.
Chemical control measures
It is better to carry out all chemical treatments in the morning. When working, observe personal safety measures, work in an appropriate suit, respirator, goggles, and gloves. When working with chemicals, it is necessary to strictly follow the guidelines for the dilution and use of pesticides.
If there is a large accumulation of locust larvae in certain areas, it is treated with Decis-extra, Karate, Confidor, Image, the validity of which lasts up to 30 days. Can be treated with all drugs that are used to combat the Colorado potato beetle.
The systemic insecticide Clotiamet-VDG provides plant protection against locusts for up to 3 weeks. After 2 hours, all pests die, and the number of live hatched larvae decreases noticeably. The drug can be used in a tank mixture with fertilizers and growth stimulants, subject to mandatory compatibility testing.
Insecticide Gladiator-KE effectively removes larvae and adult locusts. Used in the early hours, when adults are in a daze. Doses of the drug vary depending on the age of the locust.
Damilin is an insecticide with a unique effect on the growth of the pest and the formation of chitin in the body of the larvae during molting. As a result, the larvae die before reaching the age of the adult pest. Valid for up to 40 days. The drug is low-toxic for humans and warm-blooded animals, and quickly decomposes in water and soil.
Interesting Facts
Among the features of the structure and life of locusts, many interesting facts can be identified:
- Due to the fact that the insect has well-developed hind legs, it can move a distance twenty times its body size in one jump.
- When eating, locusts eat everything that is colored green. As soon as food that has greenish tints runs out in a closed room, the locust begins to eat its relatives if they are green in color.
- Insects can fly over vast spaces without landing - up to four hundred kilometers. The longest flight of a swarm of locusts is from the African continent to the islands of the Caribbean Sea. A herd of locusts walking on foot covers an area of twenty kilometers during daylight hours.
- 7,000 tons of citrus fruits were swallowed in 5 days by a community of locusts that attacked an orange plantation in Morocco. Amazing gluttony - one ton per minute.
- Locust is an insect that inhabits all continents of the globe, with the exception of Antarctica. This is due to harsh climatic conditions and a complete lack of food. But an interesting fact is that they are not available in North America. The last known locust outbreak on the continent was in 1875.
- The most unusual way to fight locusts was recorded in the 15th century in France. The judge who was considering the case of damage to the vineyards by insects made a decision to allocate them a plot of land, which the pests were strictly forbidden to leave.
- Locusts are on the menu of many peoples of the world. These insects are eaten in thirty-six countries located on the African continent, twenty-nine Asian countries and twenty-three countries on the South American continent. Research has proven that locusts are a nutritious food that can replace meat, they are low in fat and high in vitamins.
Harm to agriculture
Locusts have been a terrible scourge for farmers since ancient times. The fear of her attack turned ordinary insects into divine punishment and almost a harbinger of the end of the world.
Time passes, but nothing changes for the locust - it still terrifies with one appearance in the form of a black cloud on the horizon, moving with great speed and the strong noise of billions of wings.
When landing on a field, the flock will not take off until there is at least something green left on the ground, but this food will be enough for it for one day, and the swarm will move on.
Locust plagues can deprive up to several million people of food and occur every 10–20 years when, due to excellent weather conditions, larvae are born in abundance and the swarm faces starvation in its usual habitat.
Fighting methods
- Pesticides – allow you to kill locusts the moment they land to feed. A method that loses its effectiveness every year, as new generations are born with resistance to poison. And land contaminated with poison cannot be used for a long time.
- Noise - since ancient times, when locusts approached, people came out into the field with rattles, pots and everything that could make noise. Locusts do not tolerate air vibrations well and usually try to find a quieter place.
- Biopesticide is a fungus that is deadly to locusts. Sprayed onto a flock, the fungus instantly kills insects and retains its properties for a year, so there is no need to fear an invasion for a long time.
