07 November 2015

Migratory Locust - Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm (Fadhili)

Whilst at Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm near Jubail we saw plenty of Migratory Locust Locusta migratoria in the alfalfa fields. Normally they occur in small numbers throughout Arabia, but rarely forms into swarms. There are two colour forms, brown and green with the green colour forms mainly solitary adult females. Under favourable breeding conditions they can form into vast groups, with young ‘hoppers’ often all marching in the same direction. They are very strong fliers and migratory specimens have been recorded as far away as Great Britain.