Locust

“Locust swarms that decimate all crops in their path have been a major cause of famine from biblical times to the present,” said Prof. Amir Ayali.

Locust swarming may give the Weissella gut bacteria evolutionary advantages.

Regardless of their legendary reputations and the sheer size and numbers of the current swarm, the locusts pose no danger to humans or animals whatsoever.

The periodical cicadas will be visible in the American north-east from between around mid-May to late-June, visible in the vicinity of shrubs or trees.

When the researchers clap once, the locust's ear hears the sound and the robot moves forward; when the researchers clap twice, the robot moves backward.

Huge swarms on scales that had not been seen in decades were reported last year in East Africa, parts of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and India.

India, which is battling its worst desert locust outbreak in decades, is using specialist vehicles and fire engines to spray insecticides in at least seven populous states across the country.

According to a 1962 study, based on an estimated count from two orchards in Hancock, Maryland, as many as 1.5 million cicadas can appear and cover "around one acre of ground" during their emergence.

While no swarms are currently expected to impact Israel, Jordan is considered "threatened" , according to a forecast map by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Desert locusts had attacked more than 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) of orchards and farmland in seven of Iran's 31 provinces

The swarms represent “an unprecedented threat to food security,” according to the Locust Watch website.