The visual stimuli attributes instrumental for collective-motion-related decision-making in locusts.

Visual interactions play an instrumental role in collective-motion-related decision-making. However, our understanding of the various tentative mechanisms that can serve the visual-based decision-making is limited. We investigated the role that different attributes of the visual stimuli play in the collective-motion-related motor response of locust nymphs.

Bio-inspiration unveiled: Dissecting nature's designs through the lens of the female locust's oviposition mechanism.

Investigating nature's ingenious designs and systems has become a cornerstone of innovation, influencing fields from robotics, biomechanics, and physics to material sciences. Two key questions, however, regarding bio-inspired innovation are those of how and where does one find bio-inspiration? The perspective presented here is aimed at providing insights into the evolving landscape of bio-inspiration discovery. We present the unique case of the female locust's oviposition as a valuable example for researchers and engineers seeking to pursue multifaceted research, encompassing diverse aspects of biological and bio-inspired systems.

Obstacle negotiation in female desert locust oviposition digging.

The female locust lays its eggs deep within soft substrate to protect them from predators and provide optimal conditions for successful development and hatching. During oviposition digging, the female's abdomen is pooled and extends into the ground, guided by a dedicated excavation mechanism at its tip, comprising two pairs of specialized digging valves. Little is known about how these active valves negotiate the various obstacles encountered on their path.

Asymmetry between the dorsal and ventral digging valves of the female locust: function and mechanics.

Background: The female locust is equipped with unique digging tools, namely two pairs of valves-a dorsal and a ventral-utilized for excavating an underground hole in which she lays her eggs. This apparatus ensures that the eggs are protected from potential predators and provides optimal conditions for successful hatching. The dorsal and the ventral valves are assigned distinct roles in the digging process.

Locust behavior and city topology: A biodynamic approach for assessing urban flows.

A city's economic growth and the inhabitants' wellbeing are highly affected by its topology and connecting networks, which, in turn, influence movement and flows in the city. Flow relates to how a city is developed, organized, managed, and built. The analysis of flow in cities is challenging but essential.