SWARM SEASON

Encounter the unstoppable power of locusts.

Local chief Henry Lenayasa tries to scare away a massive swarm of locusts that wrecked farms in his region of Kenya, in east Africa, in 2020. This image might make your skin crawl but imagine how it must feel to be caught in the middle of a swarm. Desert locusts are relatives of grasshoppers that are found mostly in northern parts of Africa and south-western Asia. Usually they fly solo but when food runs out in dry weather they gather in huge swarms. Vast clouds of insects can turn the sky dark as they travel 80 miles or more in a day. When they spot food, they descend in a huge mass, eating every plant in sight before moving on. This can totally destroy entire crops, which can leave people in danger of starvation.