Post
by abcrystcats » November 20th, 2004, 11:28 pm
Wireman, they are NOT cool ... !! Not if they are destroying YOUR crops and ruining your backyard. Cicadas are related but not at all the same thing.
Judih, are these the beautiful canary-yellow locusts that I have seen lately on the news?
I recently read a totally fascinating book on locusts by a scientist name Jeffrey Lockwood. He's probably out in your neighborhood (Israel)right now because he's made a special study of these insects. His book, "Locust" was published here this year, and it made great reading.
It was primarily about his research on the Rocky Mountain Locust, that scourged the crops of the United States in the 19th century and was unintentionally exterminated during its dormant phase around 1900. One gentleman once measured a swarm of locusts over Nebraska, using telegraph wires -- it was the size of four states!
Lockwood brings up some interesting pro and con arguments about extinction. If we hadn't killed off our locust population the U.S. might still be suffering from the same plagues you are experiencing right now. We would probably not be the breadbasket of the world, that's for sure!
Lockwood has a soft spot for the Rocky Mountain Locust and claims it is still alive in the Sierras (he implied this, anyways). I don't know whether to believe him.
As for eating, the locusts are VERY edible. Lockwood thinks they might taste a little like shrimp. He states that 200 pounds of locusts equals 273,000 calories, or 500 supreme pizzas, and that seeds and nuts don't even compare for protein value.
This book blew me away and I think if it is made available in Israel right now it is probably selling off the shelves.
These insects are terrible pests. People died of starvation and went mad in the 19th century because of them. I have to admire them anyways, because they have shown themselves to be worthy survivors. On the other hand, I am not living in them!
My sympathies to you and yours, Judih. When the weather gets cold, they begin to lay eggs ... that's the next phase. Perhaps then you can eradicate them.
