It isn’t just the Bible that gave these bugs a bad name. They did it themselves. But in defence of the Migratory Locust, devouring crops is just what it does. In just one day, a swarm of locusts can eat up to 400 million pounds of plants. And since they can travel long distances (we’re talking Africa to England), they can cause major damage, but of course, the narrative of locusts as a weapon of the gods to punish mankind didn’t really help their reputation.

In Africa, some tribes have learned how to outsmart the pesky crop-eating locusts. When a swarm approaches, the tribe builds a big fire. The smoke confuses the locusts, and they drop down to the ground where they are caught by humans (and often cooked and eaten.)