Locusts Switch Colors to Match Different Surroundings

The article entitled “How locusts switch colors in different settings” was located on the website and accessed via the link: (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190108125455.htm). According to the author, scientists have discovered how insects specifically locusts change the color of their body as a way of adapting to the various environments. According to a recent study, the major agent that drives the change in color of the locusts is the unique ‘palette effect mechanism’ (eLife). The mechanism allows the locusts to shift between the green and black color of their red pigment depending on the environment. The green color is supposedly due to the combination of the blue and yellow pigment. Although different scientists have proposed the viable mechanisms for adaptation of the plants and animals to their environment, this article has a plethora of discrepancies. For instance, the time within which the color changes in the locust occurs seems too short for any genetic evolution to occur. In this case, the changes in the color of the locusts to match the environment seem not related to the activity of the pigments but rather natural selection through predation. Furthermore, the formation of the green color as a result of the combination of the yellow and blue pigment seems to be skeptically picked from the natural combination of primary colors. Probably, the combination of the pigments would bring a different color due to the reaction between the various chemicals and proteins in the pigment. For this reason, a deeper research into the mechanism necessary for changing of the color of the locusts with regards to their environment is necessary. For instance, the application of various techniques such as analysis of proteins as well as the pigments using appropriate chemistry methods would be important.