ASU’s Global Locust Initiative engages key actors in locust research and management to develop research, partnerships, and solutions for transboundary pest management in agroecosystems around the world.
Locusts and grasshoppers (together, Acrididae) have a long history of coexisting with humans, but acridid outbreaks and their management continue to have devastating impacts on human livelihoods and the environment.
Locust Outbreaks
Hundreds of billions of locusts are causing major concerns for food security all over the world. For some countries in Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and South America recent outbreaks are the worst seen in decades. Learn more about the Desert Locust, the South American Locust, the African Migratory Locust, and the Yellow-spined Bamboo Locust here.
Locusts are among the most economically significant crop pests on many continents
- For example, $450 million USD was required to stop the 2003-2005 desert locust plague in Africa that caused $2.5 billion USD in crop damage
- Locusts feed on many crops including cereal crops important to global food security
- During a plague year, locusts impact 1 in 10 people and cover 20% of earth’s land surfaces
