Host Plant Range and Feeding Preference of the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) During Incursion Events in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Desert locust incursions remain an intermittent but devastating threat to food security in Nigeria's Sahel and northern savanna zones. During the recent outbreak events affecting West Africa between 2019 and 2022, Kano State was among the affected northern states, with reports of widespread crop damage. This study examines the host plant range and feeding preferences of Schistocerca gregaria during documented incursion events in Kano State. Archived plant material from state agricultural reports and fresh collections during field surveys will be used to document plant species consumed. Feeding preference trials in insect rearing cages will expose locusts to ten commonly grown crop species to determine relative palatability using consumption and damage indices. Field observations will document plant species attacked under swarming conditions in affected LGAs. Results will contribute to evidence-based emergency response planning in North West Nigeria and inform the locust monitoring early warning framework maintained by the Federal Department of Agriculture. The findings will also identify which crops require priority protection during future incursion events. Keywords: desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, host plant range, Kano State, locust incursion