Gregor's Journey

So after surviving the the Joad like journey from Oklahoma to Hollywood, Gregor along with 200 others  arrived on set. 

When Gregor arrived on set, he felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Little did he know that his life was about to take a dramatic turn. The filmmakers had created a special cage for the locusts, intending to capture their interactions and showcase their natural behavior. However, something unexpected happened inside the cage.

The confined space and high population density triggered a frenzy of cannibalism among the locusts. Chaos erupted as they turned on each other, devouring their fellow actors in a desperate bid for survival. Amidst the turmoil, Gus found himself fighting for his life, dodging attacks and witnessing the unfortunate fate of his co-stars.

As the days passed, the number of surviving locusts dwindled. Gus, with his agility and cunning, managed to outsmart the cannibalistic frenzy. Alongside a small group of eleven fellow locusts, they formed a resilient alliance to fend off the relentless attacks from their own kind.

Twelve locusts hopped from the cannibal cage when the cameras were ready to roll.

 Under the leadership of Gregor they went before the light and the cameras. The grasshoppers were always placed closer to the cameras than the surrounding set pieces to create the illusion of massive size particularly when mixed with miniature models of buildings and landscapes. Gregor was filmed continuously and the footage rear projected on a screen behind him

After two days of filming, the remaining seven grasshoppers were shipped back to Normand, Oklahoma. By the time of their return word of their experience had preceeded them into the realm of the grasshoppers.

Gregor became a symbol of resilience and survival in the insect world. News of the "Cage Cannibals," as they were dubbed by the grasshopper media, reached the ears of renowned entomologist, Dr. Nancy Brady who marveled at their story. Brady set out set out to study and protect these remarkable survivors, recognizing the unique insights they could provide about locust behavior.

Gregor, the once-unsuspecting grasshopper turned movie star and survivor, became an ambassador for his species.His fame reached new heights, making him not only a movie star but also a respected advocate for insect conservation.

 Under the care of Dr. Brady, Gregor lived an astonishing two months. Even after he passed on Gregor's legacy lives on, reminding the world that even in the face of adversity, strength and resilience can emerge. His journey of survival from Oklahoma to California through a cannibal cage and onto the silver screen became a legendary tale, inspiring generations to appreciate the often misunderstood world of insects and their remarkable stories of triumph.