May 20, 2014 at 11:59AM Desert locusts: a wide-ranging study has solved the mystery of solitary populations

With the first locust invasions beginning in East Africa this year, researchers from CIRAD are questioning several widely held beliefs about solitary insects. The results of w ide-ranging genetic study with numerous African partners were both surprising and novel. Desert locusts were thought to be sedentary during their solitary phase, whereas they can travel several kilometres. Populations were considered fragile, whereas they are actually perfectly suited to their environment and have a significant ability to recolonize, along with substantial and sustainable genetic diversity. Solitary populations, which travel fast, can very quickly discover zones in which the conditions are almost ripe for reproduction. These results radically alter our vision of solitary desert locust populations. This is a boost to invasion surveillance and prevention strategies

via CIRAD - Actualités / News http://ift.tt/1pr4qvn