Schistocerca gregaria
(desert locust)

Pictures

Picture	Title	Caption	Copyright
Title Nymph Caption Fifth-instar nymph of solitary S. gregaria. Copyright Jurgen Langewald/IITA	Nymph	Fifth-instar nymph of solitary S. gregaria.	Jurgen Langewald/IITA
Title Nymph Caption Fifth-instar nymph of gregarious S. gregaria. Copyright Chris Lomer/Dept of Molecular Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey	Nymph	Fifth-instar nymph of gregarious S. gregaria.	Chris Lomer/Dept of Molecular Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Title Adult Caption Adult solitary S. gregaria. Copyright Jurgen Langewald/IITA	Adult	Adult solitary S. gregaria.	Jurgen Langewald/IITA
Title Adult Caption Adult gregarious S. gregaria. Copyright Chris Lomer/Dept of Molecular Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey	Adult	Adult gregarious S. gregaria.	Chris Lomer/Dept of Molecular Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Title Adult Caption Adult of S. gregaria (museum set specimen). Copyright ©Georg Goergen/IITA Insect Museum, Cotonou, Benin	Adult	Adult of S. gregaria (museum set specimen).	©Georg Goergen/IITA Insect Museum, Cotonou, Benin
Title Swarm Caption S. gregaria swarm in flight. Copyright Hans Wilps/GTZ, Eschborn, Germany	Swarm	S. gregaria swarm in flight.	Hans Wilps/GTZ, Eschborn, Germany
Title Hoppers Caption Hopper band of S. gregaria. Copyright Christiaan Kooyman/CAB International, Africa Regional Centre	Hoppers	Hopper band of S. gregaria.	Christiaan Kooyman/CAB International, Africa Regional Centre
Title Natural enemy Caption Cadaver of S. gregaria killed by Metarhizium anisoplia var. acridium. Copyright Chris Prior/CABI BioScience	Natural enemy	Cadaver of S. gregaria killed by Metarhizium anisoplia var. acridium.	Chris Prior/CABI BioScience
Title Natural enemy Caption Scelio spp. parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) hatching from Acridid eggs. Copyright Chris Lomer/Dept of Molecular Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey	Natural enemy	Scelio spp. parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) hatching from Acridid eggs.	Chris Lomer/Dept of Molecular Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål, 1775)

Preferred Common Name

• desert locust

Other Scientific Names

• Acridium flaviventre Burmeister 1838
• Acridium peregrina
• Acridium peregrinum Olivier, 1804
• Acridium sellatum Walker, 1870
• Acridium tataricum Latreille, 1804
• Gryllus gregarius Forskål, 1775
• Gryllus rufescens Thunberg, 1815
• Schistocerca americana gregaria (Forskål, 1775)
• Schistocerca flaviventris (Burmeister 1838)
• Schistocerca peregrina

International Common Names

• English: locust, desert
• Spanish: chapulin; langosta chapulin; langosta del desierto
• French: criquet pelerin

Local Common Names

• Germany: Heuschrecke, Wüsten-; Wanderheuschrecke, Ägyptische
• Iran: malache sahrai
• Israel: arbe hamidbar
• Italy: cavalletta del deserto; locusta del deserto; pellegrino

EPPO code

• SHICGR (Schistocerca gregaria)

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Metazoa
•         Phylum: Arthropoda
•             Subphylum: Uniramia
•                 Class: Insecta
•                     Order: Orthoptera
•                         Family: Acrididae
•                             Genus: Schistocerca
•                                 Species: Schistocerca gregaria

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

Growth Stages

List of Symptoms/Signs

Natural enemies

References

Ashall C, Ellis PE, 1962. Studies on Numbers and Mortality in Field Populations of the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forscal). Anti Locust Bulletin, 38:1-59

Bateman R, 1993. Simple, standardized methods for recording droplet measurements and estimation of deposits from controlled droplet applications. Crop Protection, 12(3):201-206

Bateman RP, 1997. Methods of application of microbial pesticide formulations for the control of locusts and grasshoppers. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 171:69-81

Bateman RP, Carey M, Moore D, Prior C, 1993. The enhanced infectivity of Metarhizium flavoviride in oil formulations to desert locusts at low humidities. Annals of Applied Biology, 122(1):145-152

Bernays EA, Chapman RF, 1978. Plant chemistry and acridoid feeding behaviour. In: Harborne, ed. Biochemical aspects of plant and animal co-evolution. Symposium of the Phytochemical Society of Europe. London, UK: Centre for Overseas Pest Research, 5:99-151

Blanford S, Thomas MB, 1999. Host thermal biology: the key to understanding insect-pathogen interactions and microbial pest control? Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 1:195-202

Burt PJA, Colvin J, Smith SM, 1995. Remote sensing of rainfall by satellite as an aid to Oedaleus senegalensis (Orthoptera: Acrididae) control in the Sahel. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 85(4):455-462; 28 ref

Cassier P, 1972. Der Phasenpolymorphismus der Wanderheuschrecke. In: Schmidt, GH, ed. Sozialpolymorphismus bei Insekten, Kastenbildung im Tierreich. Stuttgart, Germany, 110-151

Chen YongLin, 2002. Watch out for the outbreaks of desert locusts. Entomological Knowledge, 39(5):335-339

Courshee RJ, 1983. Criteria for choosing application techniques for desert locust control. Bulletin, Organisation Europeenne et Mediterraneenne pour la Protection des Plantes, 13(3):535-540

Courshee RJ, 1990. Desert locusts and their control. International Pest Control, 32(1):16-18

Cressman K, 1997. A geographic information system for desert locust forecasting. In: Krall S, Peveling R, Ba Diallo D, eds. New strategies in locust control. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhaeuser Verlag, 27-36

Cross N, Baker R eds. , 1992. At the desert's edge. London, UK: Panos Publications Ltd., 248 pp

Delgado FX, Britton JH, Onsager JA, Swearingen W, 1999. Field assessment of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and potential synergism with diflubenzuron for control of savanna grasshopper complex (Orthoptera) in Mali. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 73(1):34-39; 28 ref

Diop B, Wilps H, 1997. Field trials with neem oil and Melia volkensii extracts on Schistocerca gregaria. In: Krall S, Peveling R, Ba Diallo D, eds. New strategies in locust control. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhaeuser Verlag, 21-26

Dirsh VM, 1974. Genus Schistocerca (Acridomorpha, Insecta). Genus Schistocerca (Acridomorpha, Insecta). The Hague, The Netherlands: Dr. W. Junk B.V., 238 pp

Dorow E, 1996. Alsystin - an environmentally friendly insecticide for the control of plagues of locusts. Pflanzenschutz-Nachrichten Bayer (English ed.), 49(2):145-180; 15 ref

Ellis PE, 1956. Differences in social aggregation in two species of locust. Nature, 178:1007

FAO, 1994. The desert locust guidelines, I-IV. Rome, Italy: FAO

Farrow RA, Longstaff BC, 1986. Comparison of the annual rates of increase of locusts in relation to the incidence of plagues. Oikos, 46(2):207-222

Gillett SD, 1973. Social determinants of aggregation behaviour in adults of the desert locust. Animal Behaviour, 21:599-606

Gillett SD, Phillips ML, 1977. Fpces as a source of a locust gregarisation stimulus. Effects on social aggregation and on cuticular colour of nymphs of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.). Acrida, 6(4):279-286

Greathead DJ, 1963. A review of the insect enemies of Acridoidea (Orthoptera). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society, 114:437-517

Greathead DJ, 1966. A brief survey of the effects of biotic factors on populations of the desert locust. Journal of Applied Ecology, 3:239-250

Herok CA, Krall S, 1995. Economics of Desert Locust Control. Rossdorf, Germany: GTZ, 33-34

Inglis GD, Johnson DL, Cheng KJ, Goettel MS, 1997. Use of pathogen combinations to overcome the constraints of temperature on entomopathogenic hyphomycetes against grasshoppers. Biological Control, 8(2):143-152; 31 ref

Johnson DL, Goettel MS, 1993. Reduction of grasshopper populations following field application of the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 3(2):165-175

Kooyman C, Godonou I, 1997. Infection of Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) hoppers by Metarhizium flavoviride (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) conidia in an oil formulation applied under desert conditions. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 87(1):105-107; 8 ref

Lactin DJ, Johnson DL, 1996. Behavioural optimization of body temperature by nymphal grasshoppers (Melanoplus sanguinipes, Orthoptera: Acrididae) in temperature gradients established using incandescent bulbs. Journal of Thermal Biology, 21(4):231-238; 18 ref

Langewald J, Kooyman C, Douro-Kpindou O, Lomer CJ, Dahmoud AO, Mohamed HO, 1997. Field treatment of desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forsk+l) hoppers in Mauritania using an oil formulation of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium flavoviride. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 7(4):603-611; 30 ref

Langewald J, Ouambama Z, Mamadou A, Peveling R, Stolz I, Bateman R, Attignon S, Blanford S, Arthurs S, Lomer C, 1999. Comparison of an organophosphate insecticide with a mycoinsecticide for the control of Oedaleus senegalensis (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and other Sahelian grasshoppers at an operational scale. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 9(2):199-214; 46 ref

Langewald J, Schmutterer H, 1995. Colour change in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.) (Orth., Cyrtacanthacridinae), induced by topical treatment with azadirachtin-enriched neem oil in semi-field trials in Benin at different population densities. Journal of Applied Entomology, 119(3):221-226

Launois M, 1997. The SGR biomodel: a synoptic model for surveillance and early warning specific to the desert locust over the whole of its distribution habitat. In: Krall S, Peveling R, Ba Diallo D, eds. New strategies in locust control. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhaeuser Verlag, 93-94

Lomer CJ, Bateman RP, Dent D, DeGroote H, Kooyman C, Langewald J, Johnson D, Peveling R, Thomas MB, 1999. Development of strategies for the incorporation of microbial pesticides into the integrated management of migratory pests. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 1:71-88

Lomer CJ, Prior C(Editors), 1992. Biological control of locusts and grasshoppers: proceedings of a workshop held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Republic of Benin, 29 April-1 May 1991 Wallingford, UK; CAB International, x + 394 pp

Magor JI, Pender J, 1997. Desert locust forecasters' GIS: a researchers view. In: Krall S, Peveling R, Ba Diallo D, eds. New strategies in locust control. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhaeuser Verlag, 21-26

Matthews GA, 1992. Pesticide application methods. Pesticide application methods., Ed. 2:405 pp

Palcy L, 1989. The desert locust migrating to the Antilles. Phytoma, 404:24

Pener MP, 1983. Endocrine aspects of phase polymorphism in locusts. In: Endocrinology of Insects. New York, USA, 379-794

Peveling R, Attignon S, Langewald J, Ouambama Z, 1999. An assessment of the impact of biological and chemical grasshopper control agents on ground-dwelling arthropods in Niger, based on presence/absence sampling. Crop Protection, 18(5):323-339; 54 ref

Price RE, Bateman RP, Brown HD, Butler ET, Mnller EJ, 1997. Aerial spray trials against brown locust (Locustana pardalina, Walker) nymphs in South Africa using oil-based formulations of Metarhizium flavoviride. Crop Protection, 16(4):345-351; 14 ref

Prior C, Greathead DJ, 1989. Biological control of locusts: the potential for the exploitation of pathogens. FAO Plant Protection Bulletin 37:37-48

Riley JR, Reynolds DR, 1997. Vertical-looking radar as a means to improve forecasting and control of desert locust. In: Krall S, Peveling R, Ba Diallo D, eds. New strategies in locust control. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhaeuser Verlag, 21-26

Sánchez-Zapata JA, Donázar JA, Delgado A, Forero MG, Ceballos O, Hiraldo F, 2007. Desert locust outbreaks in the Sahel: resource competition, predation and ecological effects of pest control. Journal of Applied Ecology, 44(2):323-329. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/jpe

Schmutterer H, Baumgart M, Freisewinkel D, Langenwald J, Nicol CMY, 1993. The effects of neem oil and other neem products on nymphs and resulting adults of Schistocerca gregaria, Nomadacris septemfasciata, Locusta migratoria migratorioides, and Zonocerus variegatus. Journal of Applied Entomology, 116(2):178-186

Shah NK, Pandey KC, 2001. Bio-efficacy of commercial formulations of neem for the management of grasshopper complex of Sehima-Heteropogon dominated grass cover. Range Management and Agroforestry, 22(1):125-127

Showler AT, Potter CS, 1991. Synopsis of the 1986-1989 desert locust (Orthoptera: Acrididae) plague and the concept of strategic control. American Entomologist, 37(2):106-110

Sinha PP, Jagdish Prasad, 2001. Locust invasion in Madhya Pradesh during 1993. Insect Environment, 6(4):178-179

Steedman A(Editor), 1990. Locust handbook. Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute, vi + 204 pp

Symmons P, 1992. Strategies to combat the desert locust. Crop Protection, 11(3):206-212

Thomas MB, Wood SN, Langewald J, Lomer CJ, 1997. Persistence of biopesticides and consequences for biological control of grasshoppers and locusts. Pesticide Science, 49:47-55

Uvarov B, 1977. Grasshoppers and locusts. A handbook of general acridology. Volume 2. Behaviour, ecology, biogeography, population dynamics. Grasshoppers and locusts. A handbook of general acridology. Volume 2. Behaviour, ecology, biogeography, population dynamics. Centre for Overseas Pest Research. London UK, ix + 613 pp

Van Huis A, 1997. Can we prevent desert locust plagues? In: Krall S, Peveling R, Ba Diallo D, eds. New strategies in locust control. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhaeuser Verlag, 453-460

Voss F, Dreiser U, 1997. Mapping of desert locust habitats using remote sensing techiques. In: Krall S, Peveling R, Ba Diallo D, eds. New strategies in locust control. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhaeuser Verlag, 37-46

Wilps H, Nasseh O, Rembold H, Krall S, 1993. The effect of Melia volkensii extracts on mortality and fitness of adult Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal) (Orth., Cyrtacanthacrinae). Investigations conducted under natural conditions in S. gregaria recession areas in the southern Tamesna Desert (Republic of Niger). Journal of Applied Entomology, 116(1):12-19

Distribution Maps