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Locusta — Description

When thinking about which livestock to raise on a farm, the usual thoughts go towards what resources they need and what goods they can provide. Folks are concerned about having enough space and shelter, being able to afford to feed them and if the market is profitable for their specific products. But another factor that doesn't get brought up often is "risk," and it probably should be more commonly thought of. Though the word "livestock" typically brings to mind placid grazers, that tranquility isn't a constant thing. Certain species can have shorter temper than others, some may react violently to certain stimuli, and then don't forget about the simple factor of size. If you want lots of meat and bone, then it is beneficial to raise a bigger beast. But with that comes danger in its strength, even if the creature doesn't mean to use it for malice. Poorly built fences can be destroyed when one of your herd is using it as a scratching post, or a sudden swing of its head when you are standing too close could mean a few less teeth in your skull. Physical risk is something to consider, especially with livestock that have a reputation for stubbornness or aggression. Yet, there is another level of worry with certain other species, one that is less about damage to life or limb and more about damage to the environment itself. It may seem like an extreme idea to place upon a meager farm, but look to the locusta and know there is truth there.
The locusta is a large insect that has taken upon the role of a grazing ungulate. Instead of traveling upon six limbs, it sticks to just four and uses a shrunken pair of forelimbs as grabbers. Its hind limbs are greatly exaggerated, giving them an incredible amount of power. While the insect is capable of trotting or running like any other steed, its true prowess is revealed when these back legs take full charge. When there is the need for speed and traveling great distances, the locusta launches itself forward with the potent muscles of these limbs. They can leap to incredible heights, jumping over barriers or avoiding predator attacks. It is seen most often when they go into a full on sprint, their run turning into leaping strides. They chain these bounces together to cover incredible distances with astonishing speed. The added bonus to this jumping run is that they only make contact with the ground a fraction of the time, thus allowing them to avoid difficult terrain or traps. Many hunters who have placed themselves in the path of a fleeing locusta in hopes of an ambush have watched their prey simply leap over their heads and keep going without missing a stride.
When it comes to food, locusta prefer vegetation and similar growths, grazing upon the land with strong chewing mandibles. They can lower themselves close to the ground and bend their necks to feed on grasses and hairs, or use their grasping arms to bring the food to their maw. Grazing is typically done in a small herd, their large eyes looking out for danger as they feed. If a predator is spotted, the insects jump in almost a "startled" manner, but this is actually meant as a signal to the others. It also serves as a knee-jerk reaction in hopes of avoiding an attack, launching them out of the path of their foes. Once alerted, they leap away to safety, their speed and gait making them difficult to chase and catch. Cornering them is incredibly hard, as their high jumps mean they can easily clear obstacles and hunters. And if one does succeed in pinning them down, their back legs switch from jumping to kicking. A kick from a locusta can punch a hole through flesh and crack bone, it is the exact reason why you should never stand behind one. It is an attack that has certainly led to a few deaths for rookie farmers, with one wrong move and one unlucky blow to the head turning out the lights for good.
Their powerful leaps and dangerous kicks are certainly noteworthy, but they are not the reason why this species is well known. Some would say there is an infamy tied to them. This is because the locusta has a strange response to certain environmental triggers and population thresholds. In small herds, they are the simple grazers folks associate with the word "livestock," but in larger numbers, they can suddenly change. Black Bile levels in them rise, the fluid containing information that triggers a metamorphosis and overwrites their usual behavior. They begin to rabidly and rapidly breed, quickly boosting their numbers even higher as their bodies grow larger and more predatory. Their grazing habit turns into one of gluttony, devouring any food in front of them. The whole herd suddenly becomes obsessed with consuming and multiplying, quickly stripping their pasture down to the bone. Yet they won't stop there. When this "swarming phase" is activated, they become migratory and begin to tear across the land in a feeding frenzy. There massive herds become like an environmental plague, depleting areas of all food and resources in their madness. Entire fields can be stripped within minutes, and then the herd has moved on to the next victim. All the while, they breed and leave behind eggs, which will be the survivors of this swarming incident. Eventually, the herd begins to degrade, many individuals burning themselves out and perishing. The swarm is not sustainable, and after enough of them drop dead, they begin to scatter into smaller, weaker groups. It ends in a sad fizzling out for them, but for everyone else, it is a disaster.
Such a plague seems like a nightmare for any farmer or citizen, yet these creatures are kept as livestock?! Indeed they are, and that is because they are an excellent source of meat and chitin. Their flesh is rich and their exoskeleton comes in wonderful varieties of colors and patterns. They can even be used as steeds, though it takes some training and getting use to with their unique way of locomotion. Many riders abandon the idea of using a locusta due to motion sickness from their lurching jumps. But of course the threat of them swarming is in the minds of many (or it should be), leading to worry with these domesticated specimens. However, with the right precautions, this phase can be avoided, and it is mainly through watchful observation and measured culling. Keep an eye out for the environmental triggers, look for physical changes in the herd. If the signs are there, or their population is getting too big, butcher them and cut their numbers down to a smaller size. Also install barriers that prevent them from escaping if swarming does occur. These precautions seem simple but, sadly, history has shown that some folks find it too much of an effort.
Incidents have occurred where farms have neglected their duties and allowed their herd to swarm. And without tall enough fences, the insects escaped and began to ravage the countryside. Their rabid devouring of all plants and growth resulted in destroyed farms, ruined harvests and famine. Hunters and soldiers would be called upon to intercept the swarm and slaughter as many as they could. The idea should be easy to execute, but the locusta are fast and many. Quite a few attempts to cull them end prematurely when the swarm avoids the attackers entirely, In other cases, their numbers are so great that their stampede winds up trampling their foes on accident. But if enough of them can be killed, the swarm will weaken and dissipate, but how much damage will be done before that happens? For this reason, the owning and raising of locusta within certain regions is highly regulated and monitored. Failure to meet standards will result in your herd being culled to avoid disaster. No one wants to accidentally start a plague. But there may be some who are interested in starting one on purpose. Certain markets rely heavily on crops, and your enemies need to eat too. Would be a darn shame if a locusta swarm were to form in their territory....
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Grasshoppers do get some pretty cool looking colors!
Khar!