Insect · GBIF taxon 1707910
Moroccan Locust
Dociostaurus maroccanusAlso known as Moroccan Grasshopper
Moroccan locusts exhibit remarkable phase polyphenism, transitioning from cryptic solitary individuals into dense gregarious bands when overcrowding triggers hormonal changes. In sunny semi-arid pastures and steppes, spring nymphs band together to devour wild grasses before taking wing as voracious adult swarms. Massive aggregations historically devastated cereal fields and pastures across the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, and Western Asia.
SwarmingAgricultural PestGrasshopper
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Cereal Crops
- Legumes
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Parasitoid Wasps
ThreatsChemical pest control and intensive soil cultivation that disrupts egg pods
HabitatsDry grasslands, steppes, uncultivated hillsides, and agricultural margins
Life span3–5 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyAcrididae
- GenusDociostaurus
- SpeciesDociostaurus maroccanus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Nymphs: Scan bare sun-baked soil in dry steppes during late spring for marching nymph bands.
- Observing Phase Changes: Note how solitary hoppers stay muted grey while crowded individuals grow darker and pattern-marked.
- Approach Quietly: Move slowly on sunny mornings when individuals bask on low rocks before their activity peaks.
Co-Occurring Locust Jonathan Hornung / CC BY-SA 2.0 de · cc-by-sa
Swarming Relative Christiaan Kooyman / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · cc-by-sa
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