Locusta migratoria (A migratory locust)

Non-breeding immigrant from northern Australia. Arrives by high altitude night flights into the local area where it can be attracted to light. Exhibits phase polymorhism: a gregarious phase in swarming populations and a solitarious phase in solitary populations that are morphologically and behaviourally distinct. Swaming populations are produced in central Queensland but have not been seen since 1974-6. The specimen illustrated was attracted to light at a Queanbeyan Servive station and is in the solitary phase.

Locusta migratoria is listed in the following regions:

Canberra & Southern Tablelands