It’s not often that Idaho has to deal with too many natural threats, but nearly every ten years the Gem State has to protect itself from a worrisome invasion. Taking over by storm, this year a species of insects is causing more damage than expected in our state and it doesn’t look like the situation is going to be getting better anytime soon.
Coming out to haunt us every eight years, the Mormon crickets invading Idaho are not playing around this year.
Bev Sykes/Flickr Named after the Mormon pioneers who first discovered the bugs, this year is suppose to be abnormally troublesome for Idaho and other states across the country. Currently places like Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming are also dealing with similar invasions of the Mormon crickets.
Causing severe damage to our farms and creating messes on major roadways, these small but mighty bugs are not to be underestimated.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr So far this year more than 100 complaints about the invasion of crickets have been made to officials. Those of our residents with farmland are struggling to keep the crickets from devouring their feed and destroying their land. Residents reporting infestations are also stating that the crickets are some of the biggest they’ve ever seen this year.
Creating a dangerous driving environment, as these crickets cross roadways in mass numbers, they are squished by vehicles and leave the roads unbelievably slick.
State Farm/Flickr If you find yourself driving and happen to notice that the roadway before you looks as though it’s moving? It could be because you’re about to run into a group of crickets taking over the road. Crossing in large groups, the squished crickets leave behind unsafe roadways that are covered in slick slime.
The Police are currently doing their best to work with transportation officials to put up warning signs on roadways that are experiencing an invasion of the crickets, urging drivers on the road to go slowly.
Currently taking over areas of Southwestern Idaho, officials are reporting significantly high populations of the Mormon crickets so far this year.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr Unfortunately, no one has yet to determine exactly why it is these crickets are emerging in such larger numbers this year. Female crickets are known to lay up to 100 eggs during the summer, with the eggs hatching next spring. While we can only hope that these crickets cause as little damage as possible, it was just back in 2003 that Idaho had to declare a State of Emergency due to the severe damage that was being caused by these bugs.
Have you been affected by the arrival of the Mormon crickets? Share your stories and photos with us in our comments section to tell us about your own experiences with these nasty critters!
Bev Sykes/Flickr
Named after the Mormon pioneers who first discovered the bugs, this year is suppose to be abnormally troublesome for Idaho and other states across the country. Currently places like Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming are also dealing with similar invasions of the Mormon crickets.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
So far this year more than 100 complaints about the invasion of crickets have been made to officials. Those of our residents with farmland are struggling to keep the crickets from devouring their feed and destroying their land. Residents reporting infestations are also stating that the crickets are some of the biggest they’ve ever seen this year.
State Farm/Flickr
If you find yourself driving and happen to notice that the roadway before you looks as though it’s moving? It could be because you’re about to run into a group of crickets taking over the road. Crossing in large groups, the squished crickets leave behind unsafe roadways that are covered in slick slime.
The Police are currently doing their best to work with transportation officials to put up warning signs on roadways that are experiencing an invasion of the crickets, urging drivers on the road to go slowly.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr
Unfortunately, no one has yet to determine exactly why it is these crickets are emerging in such larger numbers this year. Female crickets are known to lay up to 100 eggs during the summer, with the eggs hatching next spring. While we can only hope that these crickets cause as little damage as possible, it was just back in 2003 that Idaho had to declare a State of Emergency due to the severe damage that was being caused by these bugs.
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