The Difference Between Locusts And Grasshoppers: A Guide To The Big Jumpers

Locusts and grasshoppers are leaping, chirping insects that swarm fields or munch garden plants, but they are often confused; key differences set them apart in behavior, biology, and impact.

This article is structured as a comparison chart with sections on their taxonomy, physical traits, behavior, ecological roles, and management.

Let us jump in!

 

Taxonomy Difference Between Locusts and Grasshoppers

Both belong to the order Orthoptera and suborder Caelifera, but locusts are a subset of grasshoppers capable of phase change.

A report classifies locusts as certain grasshopper species (e.g., Schistocerca gregaria—desert locust) that switch between solitary and gregarious forms.

Grasshopper	Locust
Over 11,000 species; most stay solitary (e.g., the differential grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis).	About 20 species exhibit swarming; it is not a separate taxon but a behavioral phase.

 

Read also: How Does the Locust Sound?

 

Physical Trait Differences Between Locusts and Grasshoppers

Physical similarities abound, but subtle cues and phase changes distinguish them. Below are key traits that can be used to differentiate between locusts and grasshoppers:

• Size or Color: Grasshoppers vary in size (1 to 3 inches); locusts are similar but change color in swarms (yellow or black in the gregarious phase).
• Wings or Legs: Locusts have larger hind legs and wings for long flights; grasshoppers have shorter ones for hops.
• Antennae: Short in both, but locusts’ pronotum (shield) is often saddle-shaped.

 

Behavioral Difference Between Locusts and Grasshoppers

The biggest difference: phase polyphenism in locusts. High density triggers serotonin release, transforming solitary grasshoppers into gregarious locusts in 24 to 48 hours.

Grasshoppers	Locust
Solitary or small groups; feed locally, non-migratory.	They swarm in billions, flying 100+ miles daily, devouring crops (1 locust eats its weight daily; a swarm consumes 100,000 tons).

 

Difference Between Locusts and Grasshoppers Via Ecological Roles

Both eat plants, but the impacts differ.

Grasshoppers	Locust
Control vegetation; occasional garden pests, but balanced in ecosystems.	They are devastating in swarms as they defoliate fields; the solitary phase is benign.

 

Management Differences Between Locusts and Grasshoppers

Strategies overlap but scale with behavior.

Grasshoppers	Locust
Barriers Neem oil Nosema locustae bait for gardens.	Large-scale biopesticides Satellite monitoring Report swarms

 

Prevention: Reduce vegetation overcrowding to avoid the phase trigger.

 

Read also: Are Opossums Blind? Your Guide To Debunking The Myth

 

Conclusion

Locusts are swarming-phase grasshoppers with behavioral shifts, longer wings, and massive impacts, while grasshoppers stay solitary and local.

Will you be able to spot the difference in your next encounter? Share your experience via the comments section below!

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