What Do Desert Locusts Eat?

Desert locusts are polyphagous, meaning they eat a wide variety of vegetation.

• Leaves: The primary food source for desert locusts, they consume leaves from a variety of plants and trees.
• Flowers: Locusts also consume flowers, which provide them with necessary nutrients.
• Fruits: They eat various fruits, extracting the moisture and nutrients.
• Seeds: Seeds are a significant part of the locust diet, providing high energy content.
• Bark: In scarcity, they resort to eating the bark of trees and shrubs.
• Crops: Desert locusts are notorious for devastating crops, including cereals, vegetables, and cotton.

How do Desert Locusts Eat?

Desert locusts are polyphagous, meaning they can eat a wide variety of vegetation.

• They use their strong mandibles to tear and chew plant material.
• They primarily consume leaves, but can also eat stems, seeds, and fruits.
• They can eat their own weight in food each day, which is about 2 grams.
• They are most active during the day, so this is when they do most of their feeding.
• In a swarm, they can cause significant damage to crops and other vegetation.

What do Desert Locusts Drink?

Desert locusts primarily hydrate by consuming plant matter which is rich in water content. They do not drink in the traditional sense.

• Plant Sap: This is the primary source of hydration for desert locusts. The sap is obtained from the plant tissues they consume.

• Dew: On occasion, desert locusts may consume dew droplets present on plants in the early morning.

• Rainwater: Although rare, locusts can also drink rainwater directly when available.

FAQs about Desert Locusts

1. How often do Desert Locusts eat?

Desert Locusts eat constantly when they are active, typically consuming their own body weight in fresh vegetation each day.

2. How long can a Desert Locusts live without eating?

An adult Desert Locust can survive without eating for roughly two weeks.

3. What do Larvae Desert Locusts eat?

Larvae Desert Locusts primarily consume tender, green plant material.