BIOGRAPHY
Doctor August Hopper was a brilliant scientist whose knowledge of entomology and chemistry brought him renown in his field. However, he also cultivated some wild theories about artificially stimulating insect growth and appetites. He believed that ionic bombardment could potentially induce radical mutation in insects, to the detriment of humanity. Hopper’s insistence on broadcasting these theories to his students led to him being dismissed from his position at Metro College. He found a new job at nearby Ryan Chemical where his expertise led to the development of new insecticides, and a good deal of leeway from his employer. Still, Dr. Hopper nursed a grudge towards the college and all others who dismissed his ideas as crackpot theories.
Doctor Hopper worked at Ryan Chemical and his mobile lab to perfect his ionic mango-ray. When his work was done, Hopper could irradiate insect eggs so that they emerged with enormous 
appetites and exponential growth, rapidly gorging themselves to sizes larger than a man. By adapting an armored costume as the Locust, Dr. Hopper concealed his identity while testing his giant insects on nearby farmland. Hopper’s mad plan to redeem himself was to unleash an insect horde on the breadbasket of America as Locust, and then mad ol’ Professor Hopper would miraculously devise the means to stop them.
The mutations that Locust initiated in his swarm were enough to arouse the interest of Professor 
Xavier. The X-Men deployed to intercept Locust’s test crop of insects and captured a specimen for study. Jean Grey had recently started classes at Metro College, and her knowledge of Professor Hopper combined with Xavier’s examination of the giant locust clearly pointed towards Hopper as being responsible for the giant insects. The X-Men caught up with the Locust as he deployed his latest insect swarm on the corn belt of Ohio. Dr. Hopper got the first opportunity to test his Locust armor in battle, using a variety of homemade devices and his micro-magnetic antenna to direct his giant insects at the teenaged super-heroes.
Even after this encounter, the Locust dreamed of fame and recognition for his ideas. He believed he could turn the public against the X-Men once he was lauded as the genius who stopped the giant insect plague. Professor Xavier tried to reason with Dr. Hopper, but he was too committed to 
his plans to give up now. The Locust only realized his foolishness once Marvel Girl damaged his antennae, and the giant insects turned on their master. He fled into his mobile lab, but the insects attacked the vehicle. The Locust was only saved by the X-Men’s intervention, sending the vehicle and the insects over a cliff. Having come to his senses, Dr. Hopper turned himself over to the authorities for his actions and gave up his mad schemes. [X-Men (1st series) #24]
During Hopper’s time in prison, his daughter Carol married a farmer named Bob Hickman without his approval. Once he left incarceration, Locust reassembled his equipment and pursued his daughter in order to force her to leave her new husband. The Locust destroyed the Hickmans’ farm and chased them from town to town with his giant insect swarm. On the highway, the Hickmans stopped for a hitchhiker named Bruce Banner, and so the Hulk was present when the Locust attacked them at the next town. During the fight, Locust’s antennae were damaged again 
and Carol was nearly mauled by his out-of-control giant bugs. August Hopper failed to defend his daughter, but Bob Hickman leapt into the fray with only a pitchfork against a giant praying mantis. The Locust realized what a fool he had been, and finally gave the Hickmans his blessing. [Incredible Hulk (2nd series) #194]
August Hopper returned to prison after this rampage, where he spent the next several years. His insect-related delusions seemed to be quieting down, but then X-Factor made the news when their giant alien spaceship landed in Manhattan. The original X-Men had gone on to become 
public mutant super-heroes, drawing enormous attention from the news media. Hopper grew fixated on his former foes’ success and broke out of prison to prove once and for all that insects were the superior evolutionary species. The Locust attacked X-Factor while they were dining at a rooftop restaurant, using giant cockroaches as his troopers. X-Factor were more confused than threatened by the chaos, and Marvel Girl soon found Professor Hopper on the roof, ranting about greater glory of insects. One telekinetic TKO later, and the Locust was back in custody where he could get the treatment he needed. [X-Factor (1st series) #52]
...It didn't take. The Locust was eventually back in action, plotting some blackmail scheme with his mutated, cybernetically-directed insects. It was folly, But the consequences to the environment if his creatures got out of control was enough for Gaea's curse to summon her Defenders. The combined strength of Doctor Strange, Namor, Hulk, and the Silver Surfer made very, very short work of Dr. Hopper's mad schemes. [The Order (1st series) #4]