TED-Ed: Are locust plagues unstoppable? | Jeffrey A. Lockwood

Desert locusts, typically harmless, can transform into destructive swarms under certain conditions. Their lifecycle begins with eggs laid in moist soil, and when rain increases vegetation, locusts cluster and transform. Swarms can devastate crops, impacting food security in poor regions. Plagues can last years, but end with dry conditions. Human intervention, like satellite monitoring and insecticides, helps control swarms. Climate change and monoculture farming exacerbate the threat, highlighting the need for sustainable practices.

What are the primary goals of desert locusts?

• To establish a territory

• To eat, breed, and move

• To protect their young

• To build nests

What triggers the transformation of solitary locusts into swarming locusts?

• A lack of food

• A decrease in temperature

• An abundance of rain and vegetation

• An increase in predators

How do locusts warn predators of their poisonous nature?

• By changing their color pattern

• By emitting a loud noise

• By releasing a toxic gas

• By hiding underground

What is the daily travel capability of a locust swarm?

• 50 kilometers

• 200 kilometers

• 100 kilometers

• 150 kilometers

How long can a desert locust plague last?

• Up to a year

• Up to five years

• Up to a decade

• Up to two decades

What role does satellite imagery play in managing locust plagues?

• It helps track individual locusts

• It identifies regions at risk of becoming locust hotspots

• It predicts the exact number of locusts in a swarm

• It measures the speed of locust swarms

What modern practice is exacerbating the threat of locust swarms?

• Organic farming

• Use of chemical fertilizers

• Densely packed fields with a single crop

• Crop rotation