Locust Phase Polyphenism and Management

Locust phase polyphenism refers to the density-dependent transformation by which certain grasshopper species alternate between a solitary life‐history strategy and a highly mobile, gregarious swarm form. When population density increases, individual locusts undergo coordinated shifts in behaviour, physiology, morphology and colouration, enabling rapid aggregation and long-distance migration. These changes are orchestrated by neuroendocrine and epigenetic pathways that integrate external cues such as tactile stimulation and food availability. Outbreaks of gregarious locusts represent one of the most severe threats to food security across Africa, Asia and parts of Europe. Effective management requires early warning of breeding sites, real-time habitat monitoring, strategic deployment of chemical and biological control agents, and engagement with affected communities. Integrating remote sensing, geospatial analytics and socio-economic modelling has enhanced predictive capacity and resource prioritisation. Concurrently, advances in molecular biology are elucidating transgenerational mechanisms that underlie reproductive synchrony, opening avenues for novel control interventions that disrupt phase change at its source.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have unveiled how parental crowding experiences modulate offspring phenotypes via microRNA pathways. High adult density induces activation of a Forkhead box transcription factor upstream of miRNA-276, culminating in synchronized egg hatching and amplifying outbreak potential. This transgenerational plasticity has been shown to depend on conserved nuclear-export mechanisms, suggesting broad relevance across insect pests. In parallel, machine-learning applied to climatic and edaphic variables has yielded predictive maps of desert locust breeding hotspots in East Africa. By integrating bioclimatic indices and vegetation greenness, this approach identifies high-risk zones for targeted surveillance and early interventions, thereby improving cost-effectiveness and environmental safety of control measures.

Locust Phase Polyphenism and Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in locust phase polyphenism and management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Locust phase polyphenism: Reversible, density-dependent switch between solitary and gregarious forms involving changes in behaviour, physiology and morphology.

Phenotypic plasticity: Ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to environmental stimuli.

Transgenerational effects: Inheritance of environmental responses through molecular mediators such as microRNAs, influencing offspring traits without altering DNA sequence.

Chromatin remodelling: Dynamic alteration of chromatin structure that regulates gene accessibility and controls cell-type or context-specific gene expression.

Remote sensing: Acquisition and analysis of environmental data via satellite or aerial sensors to monitor vegetation, soil moisture and climatic conditions in near real-time.

Integrated pest management (IPM): Coordinated strategy combining cultural, biological and chemical methods to suppress pest populations in an economically and ecologically sustainable manner.

References

1. Parental experiences orchestrate locust egg hatching synchrony by regulating nuclear export of precursor miRNA. Nature Communications (2024).
2. Prediction of breeding regions for the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria in East Africa. Scientific Reports (2020).
3. Application of geospatial and remote sensing data to support locust management. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation (2023).
4. An Integrated Assessment Approach for Socio‐Economic Implications of the Desert Locust in Eastern Africa. Earth's Future (2024).
5. GAF-dependent chromatin plasticity determines promoter usage to mediate locust gregarious behavior. The EMBO Journal (2025).