Locusták

Locusták, the Hungarian plural form of locust, refers to a group of short-horned grasshoppers belonging to the family Acrididae that are notorious for their capacity to form massive, migratory swarms capable of inflicting severe damage on agriculture and ecosystems. The most widely studied species include Schistocerca gregaria – the African or desert locust – and Locusta migratoria, the migratory locust found across Europe, Asia and Africa. Although many Acrididae are solitary, locusts possess a unique phase polyphenism: under high population densities, physiological and behavioral changes trigger the aggregation phase, culminating in the formation of vast swarms with heightened mobility and voracious feeding habits.

The life cycle of locusts follows the classic insect developmental stages of egg, nymph and adult. Eggs are deposited in soil banks and hatch in 2–6 weeks depending on environmental conditions. Nymphs molt through several instars, gradually acquiring locomotor and sensory capacities needed for long-distance migration. Adults engage in breeding flights, building colonies that migrate hundreds of kilometers in search of optimal feeding grounds. Swarm formation can involve millions of individuals, creating green cloud masses that obscure the sun and produce a distinctive three-layered structure: a lower breathing zone, a middle swarming layer and an upper moving mass.

Locust infestations pose significant economic threats, with losses reported in the millions of dollars worldwide each year. Control strategies encompass early detection by satellite imagery and ground surveys, chemical insecticide application, biological control agents such as entomopathogenic fungi, and habitat modification. Sustainable management also relies on integrated pest management practices, widespread monitoring, and international cooperation due to the transboundary nature of migratory populations.