What genus contains the desert locust?

The genus containing the desert locust is Schistocerca.

The desert locust’s full scientific name is Schistocerca gregaria. It belongs to the grasshopper family Acrididae and is one of the best-known locust species because it can switch between a solitary phase and a highly mobile, swarming phase. The genus name Schistocerca includes more than 30 grasshopper species.

That transformation is driven by population density and environmental conditions. Solitary desert locusts are relatively inactive and often greenish or beige, while crowded individuals develop behavioral, physical, and color changes that help them form migrating groups. Swarms can travel long distances and consume large amounts of vegetation.

A common mix-up is confusing the genus with the species: Schistocerca is the genus, while gregaria is the species epithet. The desert locust is also an orthopteran, the same broad insect order that includes grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids.