as long as grist, the hunger tide isn't on the battlefield, it's a 1/1 insect creature in addition to its other types.
+1: create a 1/1 black and green insect creature token, then mill a card. if an insect card was milled this way, put a loyalty counter on grist and repeat this process.
−2: you may sacrifice a creature. when you do, destroy target creature or planeswalker.
−5: each opponent loses life equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
With one motion, a pest is removed and a scourge inflicted.