Why locusts form destructive swarms
Researchers discover what causes solitary, harmless insects to radically change their behavior and form huge migrating swarms.
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Researchers discover what causes solitary, harmless insects to radically change their behavior and form huge migrating swarms.
“Locust swarms that decimate all crops in their path have been a major cause of famine from biblical times to the present,” said Prof. Amir Ayali.
Locust swarming may give the Weissella gut bacteria evolutionary advantages.
There is a “high probability” that the Weissella bacteria plays an important role in inducing swarming behavior, according to the Israeli study.
When a solitary locust joins a group, the bacterial composition of its gut transforms, possibly causing dramatic behavioral changes.