Desert Locust Schistocerca gregaria

Locusts are the swarming phase of some species of grasshoppers. The Desert Locust is native to scrub and desert areas of Africa and Asia (Middle East, India, Central Asia).

The grasshopper phase is as a solitary insect but, after rains when food is plentiful, they can breed rapidly and become gregarious and migratory.

They are strong fliers and can build swarms of millions or billions and rapidly strip fields of crops and any green plant matter in their path. Such "plagues" can last years.

Adult males are some 6cm long and females up to 9cm. Both are fully winged.

The nymphs are wingless and have 4-5 stages of growth before maturity (and full wings) but can still form bands that can decimate plants.