Molecular basis underlying behavioural changes during phase transition in the desert locust.

Depending on population density, locusts occur in two forms or phases that differ in many aspects of their morphology, physiology and behaviour. When population densities are low, locusts occur in a cryptic solitarious phase and avoid other locusts. Desert locusts in the gregarious phase may form swarms that can cause a lot of damage to crops and pastures in large parts of Africa and Asia. The transition between these two extreme phases is a multistage process, with some changes in morphology and physiology taking several stages or even generations to complete. In contrast, behaviour changes rapidly. Solitarious locusts acquire most of the behavioural characteristics of gregarious phase locusts within only four hours of crowding. This behavioural phase change forms a target in the preventive control of locust swarms; in addition it provides a powerful model in which to address the mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity of behaviour. This is reflected in the main goals of this study, viz. the search for targets for a more economic and ecologically responsible fight against locust swarms and to map the molecular changes in the central nervous system that lie at the basis of the behavioural transition.

Keywords:cAMP, PKG, PKA, Biogenic amine, GPCR, Schistocerca gregaria

Disciplines:Animal biology