A swarm of stink bugs and a river of rats: why India’s flowering bamboo causes a crisis for humans

Every few decades, Mizoram's flowering bamboo triggers a cycle of mass blooming that leads to an explosion in rodent populations, devastating local crops and causing famine. The stink bugs, locally known as thangnang, signal this impending crisis, yet neither farmers nor authorities seem adequately prepared. This recurring natural phenomenon underscores the urgent need for better predictive measures and sustainable farming practices to mitigate its impact on local communities.