(Why do so many sites and messages indicate that the tribulation locusts are not locusts?

The scriptures say that they are locusts, not "like locusts":)

Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

(Now, when describing what it says are locusts, then it uses comparisons.

It says that the shape of the locusts are like something different than usual locusts:)

Revelation 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

(Yes, they look very different than usual locusts, and also unlike usual locusts, they have a king over them:)

Proverbs 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

But in line 3 and 7, the scriptures call them locusts.

So, why can't they be locusts?

Why can't they be specially created locusts?

Or something brought about the wrong way, like the giants before the flood?

.