Jeffrey Lockwood has taken up the challenge of writing an entire book on an insect species. He weaves a fascinating tale about the Rocky Mountain Locust, which once terrorised the settlers of the American frontier and then ceased to exist within a very short period of time. As a scientific study of the rise and demise of a particular species, it is exhaustively documented and well-sourced.

According to Lockwood, the locust played a crucial role in the ecological balance of the American frontier. The mass swarms, often including over 10 billion individual members, caused widespread starvation for early settlers in the US, and the government was forced to call in troops of scientists to help find ways to fight the offending creatures.

Over the course of a few decades the locusts completely vanished. The swarms were nowhere to be seen, but they were replaced by smaller versions comprising other insects.

How did the locusts depart from the scene?

Lockwood has painstakingly described the scenario. His book ? a saga of science?s interaction with society at a crucial period in American history ? is a page-turner.