Mormon Crickets are Swarming These Western States

Across the western United States, skies are darkening with the onset of an insect invasion. No, this isn’t a new Biblical plague of locusts; rather, it’s the cyclical uprising of Mormon crickets, (named such after their infamous attack on Brigham Young’s Utah settlement in 1847). Still, reporters and entomologists alike are warning people of the potential dangers of the pest, from property damage to an increased risk of car accidents.

Here is everything you need to know about the Mormon cricket, including what it is, where it’s currently swarming, and how to stay safe in an insect-ridden state.

What Are Mormon Crickets?

SuZanBare/Getty Images

According to the University of Nevada, Reno, Mormon crickets are flightless insects native to the western U.S. Despite their name, they are not actually crickets, but katydids, and look like “fat grasshoppers that cannot fly.” Their complete life cycles last between 60 and 90 days, during which they can grow to up to three inches and fly between 25 and 50 miles. They hatch every few years and since the late 1990s, populations have been steadily increasing. In 2006, mormon crickets invaded over 10 million acres in Nevada.

Why Are Mormon Crickets Dangerous?

Because Mormon crickets feed on native plants and cultivated forage crops, they can cause considerable damage to both property and the larger ecosystem. They often destroy gardens, lawns and large swaths of crops, which, in turn, reduces the food supply for other wildlife and livestock. This diminishment of plants can also deplete soil nutrients and contribute to soil erosion. Finally, because the Mormon crickets invade in mass numbers and the killing of one attracts the swarming of others, they can coat the roads. When paired with a little rain, the katydid corpses can create conditions “almost like an oil slick,” according to Jonathan Moore at the Associated Press.

Hearing CRICKETS!

When highways begin to look like this with the seasonal arrival of Mormon crickets, we plow and sand for better driving traction.

And these signs on area highways are a reminder to TAKE IT SLOW when crickets make for potentially slick driving.🚗 pic.twitter.com/o5vgJzPyCa

— Nevada DOT Elko (@nevadadotelko) June 15, 2023

Which States Are Infested with Mormon Crickets?

Mormon cricket infestations occur cyclically in the states west of the Missouri river. The Mormon crickets will hit Nevada and Idaho the hardest this year, as well as Colorado, Utah, Oregon, and Washington to a lesser extent. Many news sources spotlight Elko, Nevada as an example of an especially bad Mormon cricket invasion, with eyewitnesses comparing it to a “biblical plague.”

a plague of crickets in nevada
the end is nighpic.twitter.com/8sWhk9ErFp

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) June 14, 2023

How Can I Reduce Damage to my Property from Mormon Crickets?

TriggerMouse/Getty Images

Experts say the Mormon crickets may hang around for another month or more, so if you live in a Mormon cricket-infested state, take the following steps to keep your family and property safe.

Inside the Home

First off, if Mormon crickets find their way inside your home, Smithsonian Magazine says “they may be vacuumed into a disposable bag.” Then, simply “[s]eal the bag and dispose of it in the trash.”

Pathways and Roads

Next, venture outside and clean up your pathways to prevent slipping. Makeshift “cricket patrol[s]” in Elka have been using leaf blowers and brooms to successfully clear pathways for immediate use. And when you’re in your car, be sure to drive slowly, as you would on wet, icy or oily roads and pay attention to all traffic notifications regarding Mormon cricket invasions.

Gardens and Crops

To protect your gardens, you can “erect a fence or slick barrier 18-24 inches high,” according to Smithsonian Magazine. To build such a fence, use chicken wire wrapped tightly in sheet plastic. You can also use a chemical pesticide such as carbaryl bait—which infects and kills one Mormon cricket, followed by more when those insects cannibalize the first—or an organic one, such as diatomaceous earth.

Finally, if you see a new infestation of mormon crickets, report it to your state’s Department of Agriculture. If you live in Nevada, contact Jeff Knight at phone number (775) 688-1182, extension 245.