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Recent studies featured in Science have brought new insights into a captivating yet destructive natural phenomenon: the movement of large locust swarms.
Researchers including Greg Sword, Ph.D., a Regents Professor and Charles R. Parencia Chair in Cotton Entomology at Texas A&M University, aim to redefine our understanding of how order can develop from chaos in animal groups.
In collaboration with teams from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior at the University of Konstanz, Germany, Sword contributed to the publication titled “The behavioral mechanisms governing collective motion in swarming locusts.” The findings suggest that locusts exhibit a more disorganized form of follow-the-leader behavior instead of the previously assumed synchronized collective motion.
Specializing in desert locusts and other swarming insects such as crickets, Greg Sword’s research at the Behavioral Plasticity Research Institute at Texas A&M University sheds light on the dynamics of how these insects behave in groups. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife)
Understanding swarm dynamics
According to Sword, various environmental factors such as landscape and the availability of food resources can steer the direction of the locusts leading the swarm. However, the overall movement is largely determined by how individual locusts respond to their nearby companions.
Desert locusts, one of 20 recognized species of locusts, experience a remarkable transformation known as locust phase polyphenism. This process is influenced by population density and results in significant changes to their biology, physical appearance, and behavior.
When densities are low, locusts prefer solitude and avoid one another. In contrast, an increase in population density fosters social behavior, leading to the creation of expansive swarms that migrate across regions. These swarms can wreak havoc on agriculture, causing economic losses estimated in the billions and contributing to global food insecurity.
“The patterns that emerge at the collective level are the result of individual interactions among locusts,” Sword explained. “Each locust acts in its own self-interest, yet they adhere to shared behavioral rules that dictate the overall movement pattern. Understanding this movement can enhance our ability to predict their trajectory, potentially transforming our approach to mitigating their detrimental effects.”
Implications for locust management
The implications of this research could lead to advancements in how locust populations are monitored and controlled, ultimately reducing agricultural losses and protecting habitats.
Sword also noted that the new understanding could aid researchers in North America in studying locust species found in Central and South America, as well as other swarming insects such as Mormon crickets.
“Is the behavioral mechanism similar across these different species?” he posed. “Texas A&M is well-placed to investigate these critical questions. It’s essential to find answers, especially since, while the U.S. currently remains unaffected by locust swarms, the Central American locust has been spotted within 150 miles of the Texas-Mexico border.”
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