Locusts

insects · swarms · grasshoppers · survival

Solitary to gregarious. Most of the time, locusts live alone like regular grasshoppers, but when food and weather conditions are perfect, they suddenly become social insects and gather into enormous swarms.

Swarms change everything. When locusts swarm, they don't just multiply in numbers, they actually change their behavior, body color, and habits to work together as a group.

Different families. Swarming has evolved independently in at least 18 different genera of locusts spread across 5 different subfamilies, meaning many locust types discovered how to swarm on their own.

Grasshopper or locust?. There's no real biological difference between a locust and a grasshopper, scientists call them locusts only if they form swarms when conditions allow it.