Swarms of locusts have hit multiple Indian states in North India – Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have reported this pest buzzing across skies in multiple districts. Locust attacks of the size being seen in India – spread over a kilometre has the potential to damage huge swathes of crop land, ravaging standing crops within days. This swarm originated in West Africa in January 2020 and has travelled east after covering the Middle East and Pakistan over the last couple of months. Here is why farmers fear and despise this pest.