The behavioral mechanisms governing collective motion in swarming locusts

Collective motion, which is ubiquitous in nature, has traditionally been explained by "self-propelled particle" models from theoretical physics. Here we show, through field, lab, and virtual reality experimentation, that classical models of collective behavior cannot account for how collective motion emerges in marching desert locusts, whose swarms affect the livelihood of millions. In contrast to assumptions made by these models, locusts do not explicitly align with neighbors. While individuals respond to moving-dot stimuli through the optomotor response, this innate behavior does not mediate social response to neighbors. Instead, locust marching behavior, across scales, can be explained by a minimal…

• N
  Nvidia
• EC
  European Commission

  Award: 860949
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: EXC 2117 422037984, 422037984, EXC 2117
• GW
  Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
• M
  Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
• L
  Leibniz-Gemeinschaft