Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Locusts
  5. Australian locusts
  6. Locust and grasshopper identification guide
  7. Description of nymphs
  8. 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria (nymph)

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Description of nymphs
    • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera (nymph)
    • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa (nymph)
    • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria (nymph)
    • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata (nymph)
    • 5. Other Austroicetes species (nymph)
    • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis (nymph)
    • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus (nymph)
    • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species (nymph)
    • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis (nymph)
    • 10. Heteropternis obscurella (nymph)
    • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species (nymph)
    • 12. Urnisa guttulosa (nymph)
    • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus (nymph)
    • 14. Caledia captiva (nymph)
    • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum (nymph)

3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria (nymph)

​Nymph description 3 of 15

Grpahic: photo of migratory locust nymphs showing two different colour forms.

Distribution

Graphic: Distribution map - found mainly in northern Australia but can invade southern areas during an outbreak. A frequent pest in Central Highlands of Queensland.

Nymph Description: Locusta has different phases with the solitary phase the most commonly encountered:
Solitary phase: Colour from brown to green. In profile the thorax is slightly domed above the head and crested. A dark stripe starts at the antenna, goes up through the eye at a 45 degree angle and becomes horizontal before fading into the thorax, which has a small but prominent dark spot. Rear femur has two oblique darker bands.
Gregarious phase: Colour is red to orange with very contrasting darker to almost black markings. In profile the thorax is not domed but saddle-shaped and even lower than the head. A dark stripe starts at the antennae, goes up through the eye at a 45 degree angle and becomes horizontal as it continues across the thorax. In later instars this becomes a prominent stripe along the entire body.

Confusion with Australian plague locust: This is a large species with later instars bigger than plague locust adults.

Confusion with yellow winged locust: Similar size and domed appearance (compare photos).

Unique features: The combination of large size, only slightly domed thorax, an eye stripe which becomes horizontal at the back of the eye, and a hairy 'chest' or downy layer on underside of thorax.

Further information on this species: Description of adult, More images, Distribution, Biology

| Previous species | Next species |

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 04 November 2019

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram