Australian plague locust (Orthoptera), Chortoicetes terminifera, are cannibalistic (Elgar and Crespi, 1992) and they often consume injured or weak conspecific to compensate for the deficiency of an important nutrient - protein (Simpsons et al., 2006). This phenomenon is most observed during their migratory period. Cannibalism of conspecifics in locusts drives the mass migratory movement (Simpsons et al., 2006; Bazazi et al. 2008; Hansen et al., 2011) because if individuals stop moving, they are faced with the constant stress of being cannibalized. Hence, the migration in locusts is considered to be a ‘forced march’ (Simpson et al. 2006; Bazazi et al. 2008).
With cannibalism, individual survives for a longer period of time, hence, able to migrate farther (Hansen et al., 2011). Cannibalism is then proposed as a “lifeboat mechanism” conferring two benefits to an individual (Hansen et al., 2011):
(1) Compensation of protein deprivation and;
(2) Longer survival period and further travelling distances
With cannibalism, individual survives for a longer period of time, hence, able to migrate farther (Hansen et al., 2011). Cannibalism is then proposed as a “lifeboat mechanism” conferring two benefits to an individual (Hansen et al., 2011):
(1) Compensation of protein deprivation and;
(2) Longer survival period and further travelling distances