Swarms Of Crickets Taking Over Parts Of Idaho & Nevada

Posted: May 21, 2024 at 9:45 am

While cicada-geddon may be drawing all of the attention of entomologists in the eastern part of the country, there is another insect-ageddon going on in parts of the West.

Swarms of crickets are taking over towns in Nevada and Idaho. In some areas, roadways have been completely covered and briefly shut down so that Department of Transportation crews could plow the noisy buggers off the road. The crickets, specifically Mormon crickets, are drawn to areas that are stricken by drought because they feed on dead crops and vegetation. They also travel in very large groups, which is why they often cover road. Residents say they leave a slick, bloody mess on the road when they’re run over by cars and also emit a horrible smell.

Our maintenance crews see a little of everything in Southwest Idaho…🦗🦗

This video is from State Highway 51 last week. Mormon crickets are taking over the road this season! Watch out for slick spots. (If you get queasy easily, don’t watch this with the volume on🤢) pic.twitter.com/DzeItd0oYr

— Idaho Transportation Department (@IdahoITD) July 21, 2022

Photo Credit: Idaho Transportation Department via X