Locusts and Zombies Have Similar Lives

Zoinks. Being a locust is like being in a zombie horror flick:

Scientists say they may have discovered the reason why swarms of locusts are driven to devour such huge quantities of vegetation. They suggest that locusts combine into swarms because they are frightened of being eaten by each other.

A swarm can contain billions of insects and eat tens of thousands of tonnes of vegetation in a single day. Sounding like waves of rain, it darkens the desert sky and descends to destroy swathes of food crops.

No-one is sure exactly what makes locusts swarm in this way. They are usually herbivores but scientists have observed them eating each other. This is when they cannot get hold of enough food when normal supplies start to run short. Young locusts, which cannot fly, have been seen eating other members of their group. The new theory suggests that some other locusts start to panic. Increasing numbers of locusts band together to try to get away from the hungry cannibals chasing behind.