Desert locust

[bugmankeith]

Do these also live in the US in Southern states? Also, if introduced to States that get freezing winters, could these lay eggs that lay dormant and hatch in warm weather? I would think they wouldn't be a pest since there would always be abundant food and no need to form flying swarms.

 

[Nanotrev]

The USDA would be on you like flies to poop if you ever tried to transport them. They're highly invasive and as far as I know they're still a problem in the US from time to time. Especially here in a place like Nebraska. I wouldn't give them any more help than they already have from the environment. Swarms (as far as I'm aware) are rare in the US but I'd hate to be the poor farmer whose crops they find. I do agree! They would make a terrific feeder under strict control but nothing else.

Not to be a party pooper, but it's something like this that could draw unwanted attention to our hobby.

 

[bugmankeith]

I was asking because I watched a show on them and wanted to know why I hadn't heard of these in the US.

If you say they can live in Nebraska and it can get below zero than I guess your saying they can become established in climates with freezing winters.

 

[Introvertebrate]

Folks in the UK use locusts as feeders. Their weather is similar to ours, and the locusts haven't gotten established.

 

[bugmankeith]

Folks in the UK use locusts as feeders. Their weather is similar to ours, and the locusts haven't gotten established.

So why the talk about them being invasive, I don't get it, if they won't survive what's the risk? It would be like feeders now.

 

[Introvertebrate]

There's no logic behind USDA laws, as far as I can see. They don't let us have stick insects either.

 

[Tenodera]

Heeeere we go again. I'd recommend just taking some adventurous drives, hunting native Schistocerca, and seeing how they do. More legal, more useful, more fun.

 

[bugmankeith]

Heeeere we go again. I'd recommend just taking some adventurous drives, hunting native Schistocerca, and seeing how they do. More legal, more useful, more fun.

I do there is one species that is green and pink in some individuals and quite beautiful. And sometimes in fields I do see a numerous amount of gliding grasshoppers about 30 at a time and they are very large with pink underwings also very pretty but a nasty bite if you try to hold them!