Locusts have plagued humans since antiquity, erupting into swarms so devastating that they serve as stand-ins for divine wrath. In fact, just this week, massive clouds of desert locusts battered cars crossing the Sahara and descended on tourists in the Canary Islands. But what causes them to start swarming in the first place? — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2026-02-26T22:00:47.807940204ZLiving their lives as loners in their solitary phase, desert locusts typically take care to avoid each other. The desert locust’s Jekyll-and-Hyde routine is triggered by a number of factors.

Source: Washington Post February 27, 2026 19:20 UTC