The desert locust Schistocerca gregaria contains a relatively simple but abundant gut
microbiota which originated from the insect's diet. The gut bacterial population is dominated
by Enterobacteriaceae with a major component of enterococci. Microbial metabolism of
secondary plant chemicals in the locust gut produces phenolics useful to the locust host.
Some products are antimicrobial and contribute to host defense against pathogens, others
are employed by the host as components of the aggregation pheromone. This dual benefit …