Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 30

31. Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)

(Migratory Locust)

Diagnosis: It occurs in green and brown forms in the solitary phase. Adults in gregarious phase were also collected which can easily be distinguished by their yellow colour with dark black marking. The species can easily be identified from other locusts by the absence of prostemal process, the slight yellow tinting of the wings and the black anal veins are distinctive features of the species.

Habitats: Though quite strict gramimvorous and capable of causing considerable damage to grain crops, very many plants belonging to different families have been recorded as food. It was collected mainly from millet and maize in large numbers and was observed as being serious pest of millet. It is reported as permanent resident in the solitaria phase on the shores of Chad. Joyce (1952) records this species as eating millet in Sudan. It occurs in wetter areas as nymphs. Under favourable codition, becomes a menace to millet.

Material examined: Al Shati Region: Qirah , 4 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa, 12.xi.1992 ; Ququm , 2 ♂, 4 ♀, on alfalfa, 24.x.1992 ; Tamzawah , l ♂, on alfalfa, 29.x.1992 ; 1 ♀, on grass, 4.xi.1992; Tarut , 1 ♂, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Zahra , 1 ♀, on grass, 5.xii.1992 . Ghat Region: Al Awaynat , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on grass and dry great millet, 20.vii.1995 ; Ghat, 2 ♂, 3 ♀, on alfalfa-wild grass, 18.vii.1995 . Murzuk region: Al Qatrun , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on millet, 15.v.1993 ; Majdul , 1 ♀, on great millet, 15.v.1993 . Sebha Region: Ghodwa , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on great millet, 1.v.1995 ; Samnu , 2 ♂, 3 ♀, on millet, 1.x.1994 ; Sebha, 3 ♂, 5 ♀, on grass- alfalfa, 8.vi.1995 . Wadi Haya Region: Al Abyad , 8 ♂, 3 ♀, on alfalfa & millet, 2.xi.1992 ; Al Hamarah , 11 ♂, 4 ♀, on grass-millet, 2.xi.1992 ; Ben Hareth , 7 ♂, 2 ♀, on millet, 16.xi.1992 ; Bint Bayyah. 1 ♀, on alfalfa & orange, 16.xi.1992 ; Khalayf , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on great millet, 16.xi.1992 ; Garagara , 13 ♂, 21 ♀, on great millet, 27.xi.1992 ; Al Tanahmah , l ♂, on millet, 7.xi.1992 ; Al Garaya , 3 ♂, on barley-alfalfa, 7.xii.1992 ; Al Ghrayfah , 1 ♀, on barley, 15.ii.1993 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Ain Mara, Barca, Bengasi, Cirene, Derna, El Fetejah, Fueihat, Kufrah, Tocra; Tripolitania: Ain Zara, Tajuira, Tripoli; Fezzan: Al Abyad, Al Awaynat, Al Garaya, Al Harnarah, Al Qatrun, Al Tanahmah, Ben Hareth, Bint Bayyah, Ghat, Ghodwa, Garagara, Khalayf, Majdul, Qirah, Ququm, Samnu, Sebha, Tamzawah, Tarut, Zahra .

Distribution: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Spain, S. France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Ceychelles, Rodriquez Is., Canary Is., Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde Is., Europe, Asia, N. Australia.

Remarks: This is most widely distributed species and popularly known as migratory locust. The distribution of Locusta migratoria is greater than that of any other Acridoid. It has been reported from Libya by Werner (1908), Ghigi (1913), I. Bolivar (195), Giglio-Tos (1923), Zanon (1929), Salfi (1925) and Jannone (1938). This species was recorded from Fezzan by Salfi (1935a) and Ajaili et al. (1989).