The Atlas Obscura Podcast That Time Locusts Ate The Entire Midwest
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May 8, 2025 In the 1870s, a massive swarm of Rocky Mountain Locusts wreaked havoc across the Midwest, decimating crops and challenging farmers. The podcast explores the bizarre yet darkly humorous ways communities tried to combat the invasion. From creative strategies to the desperate consumption of locusts, the resilience of the people shines through. The discussions touch on the ecological significance of locust swarms and the lasting cultural impacts, weaving a narrative of hope amid devastation that resonates even today.
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Terrifying Locust Swarm Arrival
- In 1873, farmers witnessed a massive silvery-gray cloud that appeared like snow but was actually millions of locusts approaching.
- The loud roar of their wings created a terrifying and apocalyptic scene as the swarm descended on their farms.
Locusts Are 'Hulked Out' Grasshoppers
- Locusts are grasshoppers that undergo physical and behavioral changes when overcrowded, turning into swarming pests.
- This 'hulk out' enables massive destructive swarms searching for scarce food, causing plagues.
1874 Plague Was Gigantic
- The 1874 locust plague swarm was estimated to be twice the size of Colorado.
- The dry, hot summer after a wet spring led to scarce food, forcing locusts to swarm larger areas.