Scientists are also studying Central American locust swarms in Mexico that could spread into U.S. borders, where locust swarms have largely disappeared since the early 1900s. “Locust outbreaks are a highly complex, highly impactful global challenge,” Cease says. It’s important for us to recognize how dangerous locust outbreaks can be for food security and economic security. Gebregiorgis emphasizes that this new research is particularly significant since human-caused climate change is driving an uptick in locust outbreaks. It also may fight the perception that locust swarms are random, if not malignant, forces of nature or even divine will.