Locusts might seem like harmless little grasshoppers, and in many ways, they are like grasshoppers. They eat plants and they hop long distances on springy back legs. Just one locust can’t cause trouble. The problem is, locusts sometimes gather in big groups, or swarms. A swarm of locusts can stretch over 400 square miles in size and include billions of the hungry insects.
Locusts Image - Science for Kids All About Locusts
All About Locusts: Locusts might look just little grasshoppers
People have feared locust swarms for thousands of years. An approaching swarm looks like a big black cloud. As the swarm descends, the insects eat everything in sight – garden crops, flowers, grass and even clothes hanging on a clothes line. In poor desert countries, families can starve after locusts eat all their food.
A Swarm of Locusts Image
Locusts sometimes gather in big groups, or swarms. A swarm of locusts can stretch over 400 square miles in size and include billions of the hungry insects.
Not So Fun Facts about Locusts for Kids
One locust can eat its weight in plants every day. A swarm of locusts can eat up to 400 million pounds of plants each day!
Locusts can travel long distances, so they can cause major damage. They’ve been known to fly from Africa to England!
Locusts have even been known to swarm inside houses and eat the furniture!
These pests have powerful jaws. The sound of a swarm of them eating can be heard from faraway.
Some clever African tribes have learned to outsmart the locusts. When a swarm approaches, the tribe builds a big fire. The smoke confuses the locusts and they drop to the ground. The people catch them, roast them and eat them!