Just add water: The garden insect that can turn into a plague - Jeffrey A. Lockwood

Discover what causes desert locusts to transform into crop-consuming plagues and how they directly endanger humanity.
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A ravenous swarm stretches as far as the eye can see. It has no leader or strategic plan; its only goals are to eat, breed, and move on. These are desert locusts- infamous for their capacity for destruction. But most of the time desert locusts are no more dangerous than grasshoppers. So what does it take to turn these harmless insects into a crop-consuming plague? Jeffrey A. Lockwood investigates.
Lesson by Jeffrey A. Lockwood, directed by Franz Palomares.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/are-locust...
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Tyron Jung, Carolyn Corwin, Carsten Tobehn, Katie Dean, Ezgi Yersu, Gerald Onyango, alessandra tasso, Côme Vincent, Doreen Reynolds-Consolati, Manognya Chakrapani, Ayala Ron, Samantha Chow, Eunsun Kim, Phyllis Dubrow, Ophelia Gibson Best, Paul Schneider, Joichiro Yamada, Henrique Cassús, Lyn-z Schulte, Elaine Fitzpatrick, Karthik Cherala, Clarence E. Harper Jr., Vignan Velivela, Ana Maria, Exal Enrique Cisneros Tuch, Tejas Dc, Khalifa Alhulail, Martin Stephen, Dan Paterniti, Jose Henrique Leopoldo e Silva, Elnathan Joshua Bangayan, Jayant Sahewal, Mandeep Singh, Abhijit Kiran Valluri, Kris Siverhus, Devin Harris, Pavel Zalevskiy, Karen Goepen-Wee, Filip Dabrowski, Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Tim Leistikow, Ka-Hei Law, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Mark Morris, Misaki Sato, EdoKun, Boytsov Ilya, SookKwan Loong and Bev Millar.

[@TheVirtualArena24]

"A typical swarm contains more locusts than there are humans on the planet" Ants : cool

[@BigattckFirecat]

Ants: a worthy opponent, our battle will be legendary!

[@hanhan9123]

There are at least 1 million ants for every human

[@sotl7749]

@@BigattckFirecat wait, isn't there a movie where ants are being oppressed by grasshoppers xD

[@olivermarsudi9984]

@@sotl7749 A Bug's Life... childhood movie

[@xdk362]

Bullet ants, army ants, fire ants, argentine ants, weaver ants: you dare challenge me mortal?!

[@basemmostafa3307]

When I was a 6-year-old kid, I remember that there was a locust plague where I live. Everybody just locked their doors and windows and waited until they were gone. We live in the capital, so there's no nearby farm or any plants really, but they were just passing by. It took probably a couple of hours. However, the experience was traumatic, to say the least. The noises they made, and how they kept bumping the closed windows. They're harmless to humans, but it still wasn't a very pleasant experience

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

Sorry to hear about that.

[@oreothecat2460]

Omg same I was visiting my grandparents in the village and me and my cousins were baking a cake and when we were serving the cake a whole freaking swarm of these things flew over us.My cousin even decapitated a dead one.

[@dronetheworld4k67]

In Egypt right ??

[@basemmostafa3307]

@@dronetheworld4k67 Yep, Cairo 2004

[@bonebreakingmarathon6550]

@@dronetheworld4k67 When we once go to Egypt school trip to learn about historys we once got hit by waves of desert locust, The invasion last 3 hour, Screw you teacher you locked me outside of the bus.

[@shinyagumon7015]

You don't become a biblical plague for nothing.

[@neetaspirant7044]

◖⚆ᴥ⚆◗

[@DanksterPaws]

Until theres nothing left of green!

[@biomuseum6645]

But the Old Testament isn’t that special either

[@samuraiboi2735]

Well unless you want the other plagues to go against you

[@saind4170]

God will exert his vengeance upon the ungodly sycophants for their malfeasances! Heed the patience of the Saints!

[@ZOCCOK]

Like the ancient proverb says: "When the Locusts start clumping, it's time to start running."

[@thegamingpuppet8381]

When the Locusts start clumping,start running

[@funveeable]

You know what also causes locust swarms? A bunch of communists killing sparrows and without the sparrows to eat the grasshoppers, they become locusts.

[@Ninjaananas]

@@funveeable And that's why these sparrows need guns.

[@putthemoneyinthebag7931]

Sun tzu said that

[@iammedusa2734]

Or we could just eat them

[@u.g.3298]

"Oh, no! The locust ate the crops!" "Time to eat the locust, then". (Based on the video suggestion)

[@Delnyque]

Grasshoppers are really tasty, wonder if locust taste similar

[@entropy8634]

He said locus are poisonous bc of the poisonous plants they ate

[@mohammadzafar8193]

@@entropy8634 then gave them to chickens then eat the chickens

[@nikenshrestha1235]

@@entropy8634 how my parents alive then?

[@randomhumanofearth7267]

@@entropy8634 if you cook them poison goes away I think

[@Mr-Ad-196]

You know those electric fly swatter? Yeah we need that except bigger.

[@neerajkrishnang3916]

Like Tesla's death ray perhaps ?

[@ragebash13]

Before they arrive don't forget to say: ENJOY THE SHOW!!!

[@koharumi1]

It will probably get clogged. Too many insects, prevent it from functioning.

[@paemonyes8299]

I really like the animation in this one, they look like paper cutouts

[@konohamaru8497]

They must put lots of work for this vid animation

[@PercyNPC]

In Thailand, we eat it. It's almost go extinction. When I was kid, it's all over my rice farm. Today it's very rare to see any of locust. If you don't mind to eating bugs, this bugs give you high protein. Salt + soy sauce + pepper and fry it.

[@Simp_Zone]

That sounds tasty! What a great way to stop a swarm just eat them all lol. We should use this practice for the super rich too

[@neonlight1214]

🤢

[@ethankoh6851]

Modern problems require ... Solutions

[@neonlight1214]

@@amberthefirst3579 ?

[@JugglerBlend]

Protein ++

[@NirvanaFan5000]

can't believe they didn't mention how the swarming behavior is controlled by cannibalism: they want to stay close, but if they get too close, they eat eachother... which drives the swarm forward. (they keep moving so others don't eat them!) My idea is to spray swarms or between crops with an agriculture-friendly sticky substance, like molasses or hagfish slime. it'll slow down their movement enough that they can start to eat eachother, letting us turn the problem (their voracious appetite) into part of the solution.

[@bensoncheung2801]

Wiiide brain solutions here.

[@lwmaynard5180]

It's called Locomotion Cuisine , and Sticky just desserts ? ? ?

[@realhuman4879]

Locust plagues are just very hungry clouds

[@riki4644]

that's even more spooky

[@sirblue5586]

Also migration, grasshopper nymphs that develop in physical contact with other nymphs transform into locust. They look so different from grasshoppers it's insane. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKmYloJ4f5hqn6c

[@legendsaysrtzisstillfarmin7021]

Around 10 yrs back, there was a warning on locust invasion in our region. When the time came, we literally ate them all. There were people camping out around the street lamps at night with jars/containers catching them, as they are considered a delicacy for us. Can't wait for the next swarm. #proud to be a naga 😂

[@Delnyque]

I knew it! The must be tasty!!

[@epilepsy1179]

Does it taste good?

[@CEOofNothingness]

What about the taste?

[@akmalrafiaa4772]

Where I come from we eat grasshoppers, but what about locusts? I've never seen a locust before (at least I think so)

[@legendsaysrtzisstillfarmin7021]

First, we pluck the wings out and usually deep fry them. They are crunchy and the taste is obviously good, coz we won't be bothering to catch them if theyr not

[@ketzellrae3888]

I remember this graphic novel series called Bone. The main antagonist was an entity known as The Lord of the Locusts. Now when I was a kid I thought that was a little weird having a bug be the big bad. Of course, now that I know what Locusts can do I don't think it's so silly.

[@DeAngeloYouKnow]

I remember one day at football practice a locus swarm flew through our practice. My coach was a ex-army ranger, and pulled me down to the ground and put my face in the grass like we was at war. Lol good times good times.

[@elvixpro7693]

Locust: No one can tame us, no one can stop us. Moses: Haha stick goes brrr

[@sureindubitably3771]

@@littlesunshine1314 no, its just a normal stick

[@sureindubitably3771]

@@littlesunshine1314 uh sure whatever you say =)

[@biomuseum6645]

Haha myth goes brr

[@elvixpro7693]

@@littlesunshine1314 Stick is stick

[@caetanosilveira2592]

God made the stick powerful

[@djblue056]

I saw an Outlander episode where they were swarmed by locusts. Man it was crazy!

[@abby-me17016]

FREAKIN LOVE OUTLANDERS i’m addicted welp

[@syedarushda2108]

Can we just wait a while and appreciate the animation? It's just mesmerizing !! Hats off to you guys ❤️❤️

[@hugueraify]

Thankss, i animated some scenes in this project, so nice to read comments like this ♥️

[@syedarushda2108]

@@hugueraify Wow really?! That's super cool. You're a great animator !!

[@abraxasjinx5207]

I remember this being mentioned in the book Things Fall Apart. The community took advantage by collecting the locusts, and frying and eating them. Bug eats your crops? Eat the bugs!

[@primeroforjesus]

Damn, this makes me uncomfortable. Insect fear acting up. That's how good the animation is

[@primeroforjesus]

@@smeggiamagarwinewait till I bring the jojos to come get you. Orewa stando ni za warudo.

[@sureindubitably3771]

@@smeggiamagarwine dude some people are afraid of bugs don't bully peeps

[@samsunguser3148]

@@primeroforjesus hory shet, a jojo reference

[@zhankazest]

@@smeggiamagarwine you're definitely a troll

[@sureindubitably3771]

@@smeggiamagarwine ah, nvm you were just joking. you are free to r/woooosh me

[@tibodeclercq2131]

The interesting thing is, our ancestor 65 million years ago was a mouse-sized creature that ate bugs. We wouldn't be here without bugs.

[@jessewood3196]

The 'reproducing' image slayed me, hahahaha

[@darksparkyshark430]

Fallin'

[@DanksterPaws]

(The plagues lyrics from the Prince of Egypt) “I sent a hail of burning ice on every FIELD on every town!” was followed by “I sent the locusts on a wind, such as the world has never seen, on every leaf on every stalk, until there’s nothing left of green!” It appears the Bible has one of the earliest recorded cases (the plagues probably exaggerated) of ecological disturbance.

[@SCP--fj2jr]

*It's kinda amazing how much information we can uncover from the past, yet not know the whole thing.* *But still, pretty cool having one of the world's oldest religious texts available to anybody.*

[@catdogmousecheese]

Prince of Egypt is an incredibly underrated movie, go see it if you haven't already. Amazing music, gorgeous animation, and for a Christian movie it doesn't feel preachy or pretentious.

[@ipiinsih3655]

waiting for someone to say its all a fairytale

[@vitabricksnailslime8273]

It's no exaggeration. I've seen the football field which was opposite my home eaten down to roots in the space of a few hours.

[@sureindubitably3771]

@@catdogmousecheese yea its just Moses and how they got out from Egypt

[@SnoopyDoofie]

Need to bio-engineer a bug that eats swarms of locusts and then after they're done eating, they eat themselves.

[@ElBandito]

Except when the bug mutates and eat all our honeybees.

[@NirvanaFan5000]

interestingly, we already have one: Locusts! they want to stay close, but if they get too close, they eat eachother... My idea is to spray swarms or between crops with an agriculture-friendly sticky substance, like molasses or hagfish slime. it'll slow down their movement enough that they can start to eat eachother, letting us turn the problem (voracious appetite) into part of the solution.

[@danielstory2761]

@@NirvanaFan5000 nah there's a better idea, locust kebabs. Put up an industrial size smell-attracting locust catcher. Periodically fill the chamber with boiled water that kills the million in the room. Adjuectent factory cleans them off, rolls them flour, coriander seeds, garlic and chilli powder and then instantly freezes them after deep frying them. Cover it in chocolate and Americans will consume your entire supply.

[@arpitchoudhary2821]

What if we just capture them using a giant container/net or smth and then feed them to the poultry birds like chicken etc. 👀

[@jikiyoko7192]

ngl thats a smart idea solves world hunger

[@charlemagne111027]

@@jikiyoko7192 catching a single swarm of locusts one time definitely isn't going to solve world hunger.

[@victor-oh]

Didn't they say they were poisonous in swarm mode?

[@jikiyoko7192]

@@charlemagne111027 ok then what about catching all the time everytime we find one of the hotspots. Obviously not gonna solve world hunger but if in 1 swarm theres billions of them it will be able to feed chickens for months

[@NirvanaFan5000]

problem is that you'd need HUGE nets, like kilometers long, and a way to hold/control it. that said, chicken and duck armies are already being used to help stop them, which is pretty cool.

[@user-pz3fr2vy4v]

Why I feel so relatable for the first few second, the only difference is that I’m a lonely college student

[@mohannadaiad]

I am from Iraq and was in the past a devastating plaque, not anymore since the fifties, but before and my grandfather say, when the locust swarm hits they hunt it and fry or grill the locust as a food source and it was quite delicious.

[@Just_Ants]

2:36 For some reason this part made me think that locusts are just the mega evolution of a grasshopper

[@nerdlingeeksly5192]

Just flood the environment with Invasive species to deal with the locusts, then flood the environment with other species to deal with the previous ones; it'll work itself out.

[@myouniverse0613]

Lmaooo like a never ending chain of misery

[@andrewbeneche6319]

If you swallow a housefly 😂😂

[@IO-hh3gw]

A mistake can never be corrected by another mistake.

[@marcell_forchannel3985]

Isn't that the Australian way ? I heard they did it with something but it got very bad

[@annexamv2776]

@@marcell_forchannel3985 yes now it's mostly desert, lol!

[@noahmcdarby5417]

3:35 .... seriously creepy af

[@robiwhy4727]

"Forming clouds, their shadow shrouds Louder the tattered wings they sound Descending down Down they come, the swarm of locusts Skies above converge to choke us Feast of souls consume the harvest Young and old, suffer unto the locust"

[@jochembraad1760]

Machine Head - Locust for anyone wondering. It's a metal track

[@scadz_]

Sick album btw

[@cagracar4316]

this channel must be appreciated,contents are such enjoyable and improving my vocabulary.İ have been learned considerable counts of new words thanks to KZbin channels like this.

[@dr.nosborn6330]

It's so destructive yet fascinating. Like if chickens would become their meat eating cousins and go into a swarm rampage.

[@ZevVeli]

Chickens are already meat eaters. The school I used to work at had chickens and they had to isolate one of them because she got injured and the rest of the flock kept trying to eat her.

[@hohuncho2341]

Anyone who's read the bone series: "OH dear god"

[@bingeeater6430]

May I know the name of the first book?

[@sureindubitably3771]

And Exodus, don't forget about Exodus

[@hohuncho2341]

@@bingeeater6430 BONE into the valley I think, it's pretty old

[@7_y1ar]

I like how humans show a uno reverse card and start eating them

[@GraveUypo]

you eat the bugs, i'll just keep eating what i eat.

[@oscarjohansson5103]

Here in Sweden, the most CO2 comes from asfalt and turf. 25% of all turf lacks water in the soil, and emits about the same amount of carbon as all cars in Sweden.

[@almed23]

ready your flame thrower bois, we're going bug tornado hunting.

[@Mr-Ad-196]

Don't forget our melee weapon.......the electric fly swatter except we need to upgrade it with more voltage and bigger size.

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

A hunter must hunt even if it's not a dream but yeah I will join in

[@15743_Hertz]

I wonder if that would create a fire tornado?

[@wpsean_ts7131]

As always, amazing with your animations

[@aryasadi5085]

"only goals are to : eat , breed and move on" Soooo, like humans?

[@georgeuferov1497]

Locusts: eat all the food People: *pull out uno reverse card with malicious intent and also cooking oil*

[@xaviermantha63]

Thanks for the video.

[@isleepinaboxi1077]

This video really bugs me! 😏

[@yoursubconscious]

separate message from another - I will always remember my librarian teacher showing, what was at the time, "The latest from National Geographic's" tape (possibility the "first of its kind DVD's") about "Locust Swarms" and how the swarms are hurting crops and the rest of the jazz. That was in 1993 or so. I think we are fine. I could be wrong, but until then, I think we will survive just fine.

[@RegisteredHuman-pk3ed]

As someone with a huge phobia of grasshoppers, this seems like a nightmare 😬 Thank God I live near the Amazon basin 😥

[@vido7027]

Zombies in movies should take notes from locust plagues, it would make them much more terrifying.

[@ChaseTSY]

Ayeee more pog knowledge from ted ed!

[@MurakumoVance]

The quote "Kill it with fire before it lays eggs" comes to mind...

[@pierrecurie]

EXTERMINATUS

[@adriandapat1206]

@@pierrecurie The God-Emperor Protects...

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

My grandpa cooks locusts during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. I had a chance to eat some when I was a kid in the '80s and quite tasty, I may dare say.

[@wanjeon-nae-style]

not the yt algorithm recommending this to me 1 min after it was posted

[@dessieboba5983]

This animation is built different no cap

[@vectorx4449]

In India I saw them as a small cloud a few months back.

[@ROYLETV-animators-supercell]

i hope this channel makes a video about 4d i am waiting for that since many years

[@VictorFursov]

Thank you forfunny and interesting video. Best wishes and great respect to the entomologists!

[@YouAndImpact]

Great video 👍

[@hungle432]

"Humans need to cut carbon emissions, rethink our agriculture, and generally reconsider our own ravenous appetites." Are locust plagues unstoppable? Yes, yes they are

[@SpinzoLynxYT]

I love this animation

[@dexter9132]

The opeing quote speaks so much about the whats happening in covid waves

[@tvlookplay]

Awesome video

[@Brydav_Massbear]

I did not know that locust change color. But then again, it is a very good warning sign. Not because they are toxic, but because they are mad.

[@IELTSExpert1]

thank a lot

[@juandelacruize]

This episode is biblical

[@saind4170]

There is nothing Godley about this bs channel but to sow discourse!

[@ZOCCOK]

@@saind4170 stop this blasphemy! I, inquistor Mordus Corniche of the imperium of man commands you to stop spreading this blasphemy at this instant or to suffer wrath of the Emperor!

[@saind4170]

@@ZOCCOK you name on tube is blasphemy. More ungodly fork tongue bs. Your words are hollow unless in satire, well then cheers...

[@shahmiyusof9817]

“Speaking of appetites, why don't we just eat the locusts?” um how about no?

[@yellowstarproductions6743]

5:27

[@n.g.s1mple29]

Yes, you dont have a say in this.

[@PhoenixRiseinFlame]

John the Baptist has entered the chat

[@rockinrom1524]

Imagine chilling and seeing a plague of locust cross the ocean

[@ibadurrohmanmusthofa7619]

this video is very good

[@kofiamoako3098]

The writing is exquisite

[@doctorfuntime1709]

TED-ED can you do a History On Trial of George Custard.

[@ujjwal4620]

Guess this is the right time to make a video on TMJ..or TMD👍

[@shaanp9796]

good narration

[@RossMalagarie]

So if the locust run into a field of different plants it will slow/stop them? Ok that doesn't make sense. The video said we have a field of the same produce and if we would have different produce in the same field that would help with the locust? That makes no sense. Oh no a pumpkin AND a squash what will we do? Maybe eat both at full speed? 🙄

[@RossMalagarie]

@ansh wadhawan ok thanks

[@yoursubconscious]

My ears really liked these sound effects. 🎧

[@simpleidea2825]

I am wondering who research on such things.. wonderful..

[@jaclynpavlica69]

I freaking love TEDEd. I especially appreciate the detailed explanations with the rather talented artists who come together to make such an interesting teach. Thanks guys 🙏🏼👍🏼🎉😎

[@regentvoo]

U know, i really love his voice

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.

[@maxhill9254]

thx

[@DrifterDc]

Catch as many as you can and fries it, thats one good locust 👍

[@professordreamer8479]

TED-ED can you do a History On Trial of Margaret Thatcher.

[@pravneetkaur2010]

We had these in india...Ah these tiny insects can be really troubling

[@PhoenlxA]

The industry should step in and turn them into food or at least protein powder for domestic animals.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Ok so you catch them? They need to be processed extremely fast or they rot. It's not practical.

[@PhoenlxA]

@@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep if we start to use them as a ressource, they will gain a pricetag. then there will be enough people collecting them and even people farming them for constant supply. practical or not depens on the technology. without that nothing is easy. that is why I am calling for the industry, because they have the access and developement for such technology

[@szymonidesomco4974]

It's high quality!

[@kuitaranheatmorus9932]

Very interesting

[@retro3889]

Yep

[@neetaspirant7044]

Congratulations for coming so fast

[@Piettheo]

@@neetaspirant7044 facts

[@sujalmaharjan911]

I had seen this but it wasnt a lot and crows were having a feast lol

[@boulderbash19700209]

The experience of the US with locusts says that the effective strategy to deal with locusts is not with whatever is proposed in the end of this video, instead Americans (unknowingly) destroyed locusts breeding grounds by plowed it all over their country to setup farms. Apparently, the machinary they used gouged the earth deep enough to expose locusts eggs to predators.

[@SoronQuenta]

We should just eat the locust. Fry them, put them in a taco with aguacate, lots of salsa picante and limón. 🦗🌮🥑🍋👌🏼😋

[@distraughthogrider7969]

Could you guys make an animation on how welding works?

[@lavliness]

thank y ♡ u

[@luisar5755]

Locusts are meat flying, stick traps and grinders, and you got free ground locusts..

[@frameready2433]

That is something I've been asking for years: can't we just harvest the locusts for protein?

[@taptapuyo2714]

Corona is so devastating. Locusts: hold my feelers

[@sureindubitably3771]

Rats: back at cha'

[@starcloak]

Great video, love the animation ❤

[@mau_vh]

Why you don't have this kind of content in Spotify's podcasts?

[@youngteacheralex5231]

Exellent!!

[@artstsym]

In the 30s the US tested fighting a comparably massive swarm of grasshoppers with flamethrowers (which didn't work) and explosives (which didn't work and also why).

[@EmbeddedWithin]

I wonder if there’s gonna be a second emu war type thingy. About a thousand goverment troops equipped with flamethrowers, hazard suits, and pressurised suits, and a huge tank of fuel for the flamethrower, and they would fight off one swarm in Saudi Arabia.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Wow!

[@pinkubyt]

I think it was 2019? but there was an immense swarm of locusts that swept through Las Vegas, Nevada. It was horrifying x_x

[@nalat1suket4nk0]

In 1916 there was a swarm of locusts in lebanon which led (with other things) to a famine

[@_Longwinded]

I’m from the affected area by locusts! When they attack, it looks like Hollywood movie! And a nightmare for farmers. Only thing we could do to get rid of them was thumping drums, and making large noise to get rid of them. They are devils especially when they attack in dry season.

[@itismethatguy]

Same but they dont come to Karachi that often, ive seen them outside the area

[@veljkogalovic1050]

In the Holy Bible there is a part that says that before Christ's return there will be a big locust invasion and a lot of people will suffer but death will avoid them.

[@ikeekieeki]

good point about human appetites

[@xiulanyang3835]

For school, I have to think of why we should not be mad at locusts. That will be hard