Locusts closely resemble grasshoppers in appearance, yet are larger, measuring around 2 inches in length. What makes them different from their grasshopper cousins is that locusts can actually go into two behavioral states, depending on population densities and environmental conditions. Normally, locusts remain in what is called a "solitary" phase. But if favorable breeding conditions cause more young to hatch than usual, resulting in overcrowding and scarcity of food, or the locusts migrate to regions where the habitat is unsuitable, the insects will go through what is called a "phase change". This second state is called the "gregarious" phase where the locusts become agitated, begin to gather in very large numbers and finally evolve into a single migrating swarm, or plague.
This is a good photo of a couple of locusts:
http://www.winonamercantile.com/photospiderlocust.jpg
I believe what you may be thinking of ("clear lacy wings") might be a cicada:
http://www.kenoshanews.com/cicadaimagescicada_000.jpg
Many people who do not know what a cicada is will refer to it as a locust since they do come out every so many years (17-year-cicadas and 13-year-cicadas). Both insects feed on vegetation and migrate in swarms.
In short, a locust looks much like a large grasshopper :)
Locust
The scientific name for grasshopper is Orthoptera.
A female grasshopper is a called a female grasshopper. Thank you. Please hold the applause.
a plague of locust
A large group of locusts is called a "swarm".
katydid is large green insect that resembles a grasshopper.
No one specific person named Locust Valley, "Locust Valley", the name was given due to the large quantities of locust trees, "Valley" was added due to the area's rolling hills.
The larger cousin of a grasshopper is:A Weta
Locusts are just several species of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae that sometimes form very large groups (swarms) which can be highly destructive and migrate in a more or less coordinated way.See the Related Link.
Katydid
Large tracheal tubes
A grasshopper