Final answer:
True locusts that cause swarms in Africa belong to the order Orthoptera. These swarms can devastate vegetation, leading to considerable agricultural losses. Other impactful insects include honey bees vital for pollination and invasive species like the American cassava mealybug.
Step-by-step explanation:
True locusts that swarm Africa and cause extensive damage to crops belong to the order Orthoptera. These insects are capable of forming enormous swarms that consume almost all plant life in their path, leading to significant agricultural losses in countries like Mauritania. The voracity of a locust swarm is intense, as it darkens the sky and devours the vegetation.
Incidents such as the African locust swarm highlight the potential for insects to drastically affect ecosystems and human economies. Other insects, like the honey bee populations of North America, are essential for pollination, and their decline due to factors like colony collapse disorder poses a threat to numerous crops relying on their pollinating abilities. Similarly, various invasive insect species, such as the American cassava mealybug and Russian wheat aphid, have caused substantial damage to agriculture and natural ecosystems around the world.