How to Get Rid of Mormon Crickets: Simple & Effective Solutions

Mormon crickets can be quite the nuisance, especially when they swarm in large numbers. These flightless insects are native to the western United States and can cause significant damage to rangelands, crops, and native vegetation. Controlling their population is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and minimizing their adverse effects on agriculture.

Various strategies and methods can help to effectively manage Mormon cricket populations. These can include habitat manipulation, biological controls, and the use of insecticides. In the following sections, we’ll delve into these techniques and discuss how each one can contribute to eradicating these troublesome insects from your area.

When dealing with Mormon crickets, it’s crucial to assess the situation first and choose the most suitable approach. Implementing a mix of these strategies may be the most effective way to keep their populations under control and prevent them from causing more harm.

Understanding Mormon Crickets

Appearance and Characteristics

Mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex) are not actually crickets, but a type of shield-backed katydid. They’re large insects with the following features:

• Adults: 3-7cm in length
• Wingless
• Can be black, brown, red, or green in color

The most distinguishable characteristics of Mormon crickets include:

• Long antennae, often longer than their body
• Females have a long, curved ovipositor (egg-laying structure) at their rear
• Stout, cylindrical body

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Mormon crickets includes the following stages:

1. Eggs: laid in the soil, overwinter, and hatch in the spring
2. Nymphs: immature crickets, resemble small adults without the ovipositor
3. Adults: fully grown and sexually mature, live for about 2-3 months

The process from egg to adult takes about 60-90 days, depending on environmental conditions, such as temperature and food availability.

Behavior

Mormon crickets are known for their expansive migrations. Key aspects of their behavior include:

• Form large, mobile bands of tens of thousands to millions
• Can travel up to 2km per day
• Damage forage plants on rangelands and cultivated crops during migration

Table 1. Comparison between Mormon crickets and house crickets

Damage Caused by Mormon Crickets

Agriculture and Crops

Mormon crickets can cause significant damage to agriculture and crops. These insects are known to devour plants and can have a devastating impact on farmers’ livelihoods. For instance, large swarms of Mormon crickets can:

• Strip fields of valuable crops such as alfalfa, corn, and wheat
• Damage rangeland grasses, reducing the forage availability for livestock

Although they are closely related to grasshoppers, Mormon crickets are flightless insects that travel in migratory bands and can cover vast distances in search of food. As a result, they can quickly invade and destroy large areas of agricultural land.

Urban Areas

Mormon crickets can also pose problems in urban areas, where they can:

• Invade homes and gardens, damaging plants, lawns, and shrubbery
• Be a nuisance in public spaces, making outdoor activities unpleasant with their presence

Moreover, swarms of these crickets can also create traffic hazards due to their slippery bodies, causing accidents when drivers swerve to avoid them or lose control due to the slick conditions.

To protect urban areas from Mormon cricket infestations, homeowners can:

• Install window screens to keep the insects out of houses
• Secure gardens and compost piles with barriers to prevent access
• Clear any potential cricket habitat around homes, such as tall grasses and dense shrubs

In both agricultural and urban settings, research continues to develop more efficient methods of controlling Mormon cricket populations and reducing the damage they cause.

Preventing and Controlling Infestations

Natural Predators and Solutions

Mormon crickets, native to western North America, can cause significant damage to grasses and crops in their habitat. To control infestations, it’s crucial to know about their natural enemies. Some of their predators include:

• Birds, such as crows and the California gull
• Rodents, like mice and rats
• Large insects, like grasshoppers and other crickets
• Coyotes and other mammals

For example, in Salt Lake County, the California gull helps control the cricket populations. Integrating predatory species like chickens and nematodes in your backyard may also help reduce infestations.

Chemical Methods

Insecticides can serve as efficient solutions to control Mormon cricket populations. Some commonly used chemicals include:

• Carbaryl
• Diatomaceous earth
• Dish soap
• Boric acid

However, it’s essential to consider the pros and cons of using insecticides:

Pros:

• Effective in reducing cricket populations
• Can target specific insects

Cons:

• May cause harm to non-target species
• Potential environmental impact

Physical Barriers

Creating physical barriers can help prevent Mormon crickets from entering your home and garden. Consider these strategies:

1. Seal entry points: Ensure gutters and drains are clean, caulk openings, and close gaps around windows and doors.
2. Remove food sources: Keep trash cans tightly sealed, and don’t leave pet food outdoors.
3. Outdoor lighting: Switch to less-attractive lighting options for crickets, such as yellow or sodium vapor bulbs.
4. Smooth barriers: Place smooth materials around garden beds and crops, making it difficult for crickets to climb.

Implementing these prevention methods is crucial for controlling Mormon cricket infestations while balancing the safety of the environment and non-target species.

Historical and Cultural Context

Miracle of the Gulls

In 1848, Mormon settlers in the Great Salt Lake Basin faced a devastating infestation of Mormon crickets, threatening their crops and livelihoods. As a miraculous event, thousands of California gulls arrived and began consuming the crickets, dramatically reducing their numbers and saving the settlers’ crops. This event is known as the Miracle of the Gulls, and it remains a significant part of Utah’s history.

Mormon Cricket Research

Modern research has provided more insight into Mormon cricket behavior and potential control methods. Mormon crickets are known for their cannibalistic behavior and ability to cause severe infestations that can result in widespread damage to crops and vegetation.

• Food source: These crickets eat plants, fungi, invertebrates, and other crickets.
• Protein: When given a protein-rich diet, they slow their movement and increase their survival.

Mormon cricket research has helped develop control strategies that include baiting, habitat modification, and chemical control. This understanding can aid in managing and preventing future infestations of these pests.

Despite the challenges associated with managing Mormon crickets, ongoing research and understanding can help reduce their impact on agriculture and the environment.