Yellow-winged locust
The yellow-winged locust is a species of locust found primarily in northern Australia, characterized by its distinctive yellow wings. These insects are relatively small, measuring less than an inch in length, with females being larger than males. The yellow-winged locust has a segmented body comprising a head, thorax, and abdomen, and it uses its abdomen to lay eggs in protective pods beneath the soil. Originally confined to dry flood plains by surrounding forests, these locusts have proliferated across northern Australia due to deforestation, becoming a significant concern for farmers as they can swarm and devastate crops. Like other locusts, they feed on a variety of vegetation, including leaves, roots, and grasses, and they tend to gather in large groups when food is scarce. Though they cause notable agricultural damage, the yellow-winged locust is not the most destructive locust species in Australia; that title belongs to the Australian plague locust. The lifecycle of the yellow-winged locust begins with a wingless hopper stage, and after several molts, it develops into its adult form. Despite the challenges they pose, this species is not considered threatened.
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Yellow-winged locust
The yellow-winged locusts were once contained in the dry, flood plains of northern Australia, but when humans cleared the forests which served as fences around those flood plains, the yellow-winged locusts were set loose to swarm through northern Australia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Acrididae
Genus: Gastrimargus
Species: Musicus
As its name suggests, the yellow-winged locust flies through the air on yellow wings. Like many other locusts, the yellow-winged locust is less than an inch (2 1/2 centimeters) long. Females are larger than males. Its body is divided into three main body parts. These three are a head, a thorax, or middle section, and a segmented abdomen, or tail section. The female uses her abdomen as an ovipositor, or egg-laying appendage. When swollen with eggs, the female bends her abdomen downward and pushes it into the ground. Far beneath the dangers of the world, the female deposits her eggs into the protecting dirt and sand. Like other locusts, the female yellow-winged locust deposits her eggs in groups, or pods.
The yellow-winged locust senses its surroundings by the use of its compound eyes and its pair of short antennae. Compound eyes are eyes with many lenses, instead of just one lens per eye. Beyond the yellow-winged locust's head are its yellow wings. These wings extend from the lower portion of the thorax past the end of the insect's abdomen.
The yellow-winged locust may be found throughout many parts of northern Australia. Originally it was only found in the dry, flood plains in the area. It lived alone and only gathered in large groups, called swarms, to move to areas with more food.
The yellow-winged locust was contained in the flood plains by the presence of thick forests through which the insects could not fly. When humans cut down those forests, they set free millions of yellow-winged locusts into larger parts of northern Australia. Today these insects are very troublesome to farmers of that area, for they often come in swarms and destroy their crops.
Like other members of the order Orthoptera, the yellow-winged locust feeds on leaves, roots, stems, grasses, fruit, and smaller insects. It chews its food from side-to-side with its strong pair of mandibles, or jaws. When food supplies are plentiful, the yellow-winged locust is a solitary insect, but when food becomes scarce millions of these insects may swarm together in search of food. This is when most of the crop damage is done. Locust swarms, which generally take place in the evenings and early mornings, can quickly destroy thousands of tons of crops. Although the yellow-winged locust does a considerable amount of damage to crops, it is not the most dangerous locust in Australia. Its cousin, the Australian plague locust, spreads disease and kills crops in the southeastern parts of Australia.
The yellow-winged locust begins its life as a smaller, wingless hopper, or young locust. After many moltings, or times it sheds its skin, the hopper grows wings and transforms into its adult shape.
The life span of the yellow-winged locust is not known, although it has been reported to be less than ten weeks. The yellow-winged locust is not a threatened species.
Bibliography
“Yellow-Winged Locust.” Business Queensland, 28 Oct. 2022, www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/animals/invasive/other/yellow-winged-locust. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.
“Yellow-Winged Locusts.” Department of Agriculture and Food, 5 July 2022, www.agric.wa.gov.au/pasture-management/yellow-winged-locusts. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.