Mormon crickets crawl near Fillmore as pest season picks up across Utah

With spring giving way to summer across Utah, signs of the state's annual pest season are coming into view, most recently with the swarm of Mormon crickets along Fillmore and the surrounding areas. These farm-pestilential swarming insects of infamous reputation have been present by the thousands, increasing daily, prompting earlier-than-typical measures by regulators and residents.

What Are Mormon Crickets?

Despite their name, Mormon crickets are not truly crickets. They are a katydid within the family of shield-backed katydids. Growing up to 2 inches in length, Mormon crickets possess no flight capability but are highly mobile, crawling in massive bands along roads, fields, and suburban neighborhoods.

Historically infamous in Utah since the mid-1800s, these insects have a past of wreaking havoc on crops, gardens, and structures. During instances of great outbreaks, they are overwhelming not just due to their sheer numbers but also because of the foul smell they produce and the greasy mess they leave behind when crushed.

Why Are They a Problem?

In farming country, Mormon crickets are a major problem. They eat everything in sight, from wheat and barley to alfalfa and wild grasses. In extreme starvation, they've even been known to eat weak members within their own ranks, providing still another stimulus to their ungodly march across the countryside.

Farmers in Fillmore and the adjacent Millard County area have already begun to notice crop and property destruction. Past years' infestations in Utah as well as the surrounding states have infected tens of thousands of acres, with towns having to scrape highways clean merely to provide safe driving conditions.

Agricultural experts and local emergency managers are advising that individuals be on the lookout, particularly in drier, rural parts of the state where the insects tend to swarm and breed.

Environmental and Climatic Factors

Environmental controls significantly influence Mormon cricket populations. They are most likely to become larger in drier, warmer years, and since Utah just keeps going through its current string of drought years, 2025 is shaping up to be a great year for large-scale outbreaks.

Their 5- to 20-year population cycles also play a role. In their peak years in these cycles, their populations may explosively rise, blanketing agricultural and suburban terrain.

Other than the drought, western U.S. wildfires have changed vegetation in most areas, eroding native plant cover and offering prime conditions for cricket movement and feeding.

Government and Community Response

Local and state officials have been closely monitoring cricket activity to manage outbreaks. Residents have reported swarms of them around homes, fields, and roads in Millard and Tooele counties. Emergency managers responded by dispensing bait treatments and advising property owners on how to mitigate damage.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has been playing an active role in coordinated efforts to monitor the movement of insects and provide guidance on the appropriate response measures. These include spreading ground bait with carbaryl, an insecticide commonly used to control grasshoppers and crickets. Treatments are typically carried out during the onset of the season, when the pests are juveniles and therefore less resistant to treatment.

Some counties have begun applying these baits on roads and in fields where swarms are likely to fly over. These are part of larger prevention efforts to minimize devastation and prevent infestations from spreading to more established areas.

Localized Prevention Efforts

Although major outbreaks require coordinated efforts, homeowners and small landowners can make some efforts to minimize the number of Mormon crickets on their properties:

• Seal any cracks in and around homes, barns, and storage structures to keep insects out.
• Destroy yard debris and unwanted vegetation where crickets nest and lay eggs.
• Use physical barriers such as fencing or boards to deflect migratory insects.
• Spray insecticide bait according to local agricultural law, especially around gardens and farm land.

Although these methods are most effective when used early, regular observation throughout the season can avert long-term destruction.

Looking Ahead

Experts say this year's season of Mormon crickets may get worse before finally ending later in the summer. The drought, hot weather, and natural population peaks create a best-case scenario for extended infestation activity across Utah.

Central and western Utah towns are most at risk, but adjoining states already have had early movement. As the situation develops, the agencies will continue to report updates and advisories to the impacted areas.

These outbreaks can be invasive and even devastating, but they are not new to the region. Proper surveillance, prompt administration of treatment, and inter-community cooperation can reduce much of the potential damage.