2024/09/03 by Xiaojiao Guo, Le Kang · 25 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Biology #Computational biology #Desert locust #Ecology #Epigenetics #Evolutionary biology #Gene #Genetics #Genome #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Locust #Migratory locust #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research #Phenotype #Phenotypic plasticity #Polyphenism #Population #Regulation of gene expression #Schistocerca
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-013124-124333
published in Annual Review of Entomology 70(1), 23-44 (Annual Reviews)
openalex publication_date 2024/09/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Locusts exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to population density changes, with distinct phenotypes in the solitary and gregarious phases. In the past decade, many studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying phase changes, which include the change of body coloration, pheromones, behavior, flight, fecundity, immunity, and aging. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms related to these phenotypic differences has expanded in breadth and depth with the decoding of the locust genome, involving transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and epigenetic regulation. Large-scale regulation networks composed of genes and noncoding RNAs reflect the systematic modifications of the locust phase transition in response to environmental changes. Gene manipulation techniques have verified the functions of specific genes and related pathways in phase changes. This review highlights the latest advances in studies of locust phase changes and suggests that the divergence of energy and metabolism allocation in gregarious and solitary locusts is an adaptive strategy for long-distance migration and local reproduction, respectively. Finally, we propose future research directions and discuss emerging questions in the area of phenotypic plasticity of locusts.