Tens of millions of locusts hit Egypt this weekend, just before the Passover holiday that recalls the 10 Plagues of Egypt (among them the voracious grasshoppers). In a sharp deviation from the Passover tale, however, the insects also migrated north into Israel and Jordan, darkening skies and raising fears of crop damage throughout the region.

Israel’s agricultural sector – which ranks among the world’s most innovative – mobilized to respond:

Agriculture Ministry workers armed with pesticides went into action at first light Wednesday morning, distributing both aerial and ground sprays in the area where millions of locusts descended upon southern Israel from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula the day before… By Wednesday and onward, however, the FAO said the possibility of additional swarms hitting Israel and Jordan would decline greatly, as winds would likely shift. The tens of millions of locusts – possibly even more – that swept into Egypt over the weekend prompted the Agriculture Ministry to issue a “locust alert” on Monday.

The locusts had crossed into Israel from the Sinai Peninsula on Tuesday and descended on Kadesh Barnea – an Israeli town that, in a nice touch, is named after the spot where the Bible says the Israelites camped during their flight from Egypt.

Israeli authorities believe they have stabilized the situation and prevented major crop damage. Israel’s most popular morning show took advantage of the situation by bringing in Moshe Basson, a legendary Jerusalem chef who specializes in Biblical food native to the Holy Land, to show viewers how to make locust souffle. Locusts are a staple of Yemenite Jewish cuisine and are in fact the only kosher insect.

Quipped long-time blogger Allison Kaplan Sommer “when God gives you locusts, make locust stew.”