Abstract:
The study of the diet of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) was carried out in distinct biotopes: in
the Algerian Sahara (central and southern), Adrar, Biskra, and Ouargla. In the Algerian Sahara, the desert
locust consumed 32 of the 97 plant species inventoried (32.99%), belonging to 17 of the 34 botanical
families present (50%), with a marked preference for Poaceae, followed by Asclepiadaceae, Asteraceae,
Zygophyllaceae, and Amaranthaceae. In the Adrar region, the desert locust consumed 31 of the 61 plant
species inventoried (50.81%) and 14 of the 24 botanical families present (58.33%), with a strong
preference for Poaceae (12 species), followed by Amaranthaceae and Cucurbitaceae (3 species each),
which reflects a good capacity for adaptation to the local flora. In the Biskra region, the desert locust
consumed 34 of the 35 plant species inventoried (97.14%) and 14 of the 15 botanical families present
(93.33%), with a clear preference for Poaceae (13 species), followed by Amaranthaceae (5 species) and
Asteraceae (3 species), which demonstrates a strong dietary plasticity in an environment rich in plant
resources. In the Ouargla region, the desert locust consumed 10 of the 26 plant species inventoried
(38.46%) and 4 of the 9 botanical families present (44.44%), with a clear dominance of Poaceae (7
species), while Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae are represented by a single species each,
reflecting a more restricted diet linked to less diverse vegetation.
