The flying locust is a zerg variant strain of the locust that appears in Heart of the Swarm. It is spawned by the carrionswarm host strain. The flying locusts are faster and deal 50% more damage than regular locusts, but have 25% less life.[1]
In Legacy of the Void, locusts in multiplayer default as flying locusts. They have the swoop ability, where they home in on a ground unit and become ground units.
Increases the lifespan of locusts by 10 seconds (to 25 seconds). This upgrade was removed from HotS in the April 2015 update, as the locust's base lifespan was increased to 25 seconds. [2]
In the Heart of the Swarm campaign, flying locusts are used by the carrion strain of the swarm host. These locusts still need an upgrade in order to attack air.
Locust production inefficient. Will greatly benefit from redundancy removal. Sequences are complex, wasteful. Byproduct of wild, uncontrolled evolution. Simplification of sequences will allow swarm hosts to incubate full-grown locusts at rapid speeds.
Swarm host defense reliant on locust organism. Locust secrets solvent fluids, projectiles towards enemy. Can mutate glands, increase pressure. Will allow projectile to reach incredible height. Attack both ground and aerial targets.