Locusts were Grasshopper-like insects known for their changes in behavior that could darken the sky and strip fields bare. They measured roughly two to three inches in length and had strong hind legs adapted for jumping long distances. Normally solitary or in small groups, certain environmental conditions triggered a transformation that made them gregarious, driving them to gather in vast, coordinated Swarms of Locusts that traveled hundreds of miles.
These swarms devastated crops and pasture, consuming nearly all green vegetation in their path. Their life cycle was short but prolific, with females laying dozens of eggs in moist soil that hatched into nymphs capable of rapid growth. Locusts shaped both natural ecosystems and human societies, inspiring fear, famine, and myth, while also serving as food for birds, reptiles, and other predators during their brief but intense appearances.