Can locusts change color? 0 91

The body of a locust is covered with a chitinous cuticle, which is dead tissue and does not contain cells capable of changing color.

Locusts are insects with incomplete metamorphosis: a larva emerges from the egg, resembling the adult form. During its development, it undergoes several molts, and after each molt, the whitish coverings take on color only after a few hours.

Moreover, depending on the population density, the larvae can develop into solitary or gregarious forms, which also affects their coloration.

Finally, the color of the locust's coverings may change during the autumn die-off of the insect, likely due to the breakdown of pigment or the influence of fungi.