# Desert locust (*Schistocerca gregaria*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/desert-locust  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is an insect in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera and suborder Caelifera. It belongs to the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae, tribe Cyrtacanthacridini and superfamily Acridoidea, in the class Insecta and phylum Arthropoda. The species was named by Forskål in 1775, and the Catalogue of Life lists it as living, not extinct.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | desert |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Migration | Migratory |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Arthropoda
- class: Insecta
- order: Orthoptera
- family: Acrididae
- genus: Schistocerca
- species: *Schistocerca gregaria* (Forskål, 1775)

Synonyms: *Gryllus gregarius*, *Gryllus gregarius*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the desert locust?

The desert locust is an insect in the family Acrididae, order Orthoptera.

### What is the scientific name of the desert locust?

The scientific name of the desert locust is Schistocerca gregaria, in the genus Schistocerca.

### Who named the desert locust and when?

The desert locust was named by Forskål in 1775, written as (Forskål, 1775).

### What family does the desert locust belong to?

The desert locust belongs to the family Acrididae, subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae and tribe Cyrtacanthacridini.

### Is the desert locust extinct?

No, the desert locust is living and not extinct, according to the Catalogue of Life.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/desert-locust