Mormon Crickets – Blamed on Climate Change
A recent outbreak of Mormon crickets has been blamed on climate change. The pest is known for devasting crops during the 1800s. Though they aren’t true crickets, they look like fat grasshoppers with shield-backed wings. Because of their tendency to breed in areas that experience drought and hot temperatures, the swarms have caused substantial ecological damage. While these swarms have been unusual in the past, they are becoming increasingly common.
The current epidemic of Mormon crickets is linked to dry, hot weather. In fact, a recent outbreak in the Arlington area of Oregon left roads covered in a gooey layer of crushed crickets, causing numerous car crashes. Meanwhile, a megadrought in the US West has drained water resources and made farming more difficult. These drought conditions are predicted to continue as the climate crisis deepens.
The swarms of Mormon crickets have become a major issue in the West due to drought. Because of the dry, hot conditions, these cannibalistic insects have become an increasing problem for farmers. This insect population is a growing problem in Western states, especially in the Western United States, and officials are spending millions of dollars to control it. The insects are damaging crops and have become a nuisance for Western farmers.
The spread of Mormon crickets has caused major ecological damages across the US. The pests cause massive ecological losses by eating plants and disturbing natural patterns. They can cause the destruction of millions of acres of rangeland in one year. They also leave road surfaces greasy. They are a significant problem in Oregon, where they decimated ten million acres of rangeland last year.
The swarms have a religious meaning to Mormons, and they have a significant economic impact as they affect agriculture. In 2003, the swarm in Oregon caused $25 million in damage to crops. The following swarm in Oregon and Nevada in 2017 left roads blood red from crushed bugs. In 2021, a swarm in the same area will cause ten million acres of range land to be ruined.
The swarms of Mormon crickets in Oregon are a real threat to agriculture. They are cannibalistic and will eat dead and living crickets. Local officials in the region have reacted to the invasion by creating a program to eliminate the pest. The state legislature has allocated $6.2 million for this purpose. The program aims to reduce the numbers of Mormon crickets and grasshoppers in Oregon.
