A ravenous swarm stretches as far as the eye can see. It has no leader or strategic plan; its only goals are to eat, breed, and move on. These are desert locusts— infamous for their capacity for destruction. But most of the time desert locusts are no more dangerous than grasshoppers. So what does it take to turn these harmless insects into a crop-consuming plague? Jeffrey A. Lockwood investigates. [Directed by Franz Palomares, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu].

Jeffrey A. Lockwood: Are locust plagues unstoppable?

Are locust plagues unstoppable?

Rain triggers a dramatic transformation in desert locusts, turning solitary insects into a devastating swarm, threatening crops.

Desert locust swarms can span hundreds of square kilometers, outnumbering humans on Earth, and consuming food equivalent to cities.

Modern agriculture and climate change exacerbate locust plagues, urging a reevaluation of farming practices and carbon emissions.