Chaos as biblical plague of cannibal crickets invades US state creating 'death trap conditions'

Utah is under siege from a rapidly spreading infestation of Mormon crickets—cannibalistic insects that have returned in massive swarms.

In areas like Fillmore and Tooele, residents describe the invasion as 'apocalyptic', with bugs covering roads, fences, walls, and even the sides of homes.

Crushed crickets have made roads dangerously slick, leading to car accidents. In some counties, snow plows are being used to clear away tons of insects.

Mormon crickets are large, flightless katydids—shiny, reddish insects that can grow up to two inches long. 

They're native to the western US, especially in states like Montana, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada.

These crickets thrive in drought and warm weather, forming massive migrating swarms that can number in the millions. 

Farmers are already reporting early crop losses, and backyard gardens are being stripped overnight. In small towns, the air reeks of rotting insects. 

Officials are warning that the worst may be yet to come. Eggs that hatched in spring could lead to a second wave of crickets by summer.

Their name goes back to the 1800s, when Mormon pioneers in Utah faced a similar outbreak. 

Early settlers watched helplessly as the insects devoured entire fields of wheat, corn, and barley. 

Residents are being urged to seal cracks in their homes, eliminate food and water sources, regularly take out the trash, and check dark areas indoors for signs of infestations.

Jed Christensen, a homeowner and business owner in Millard County, told FOX 13 he plans to hire pest control for a growing problem at his store on the town's north side.

Christensen remembers how bad the infestations were when he was a child growing up in Millard.

'I remember walking down Corn Creek Canyon as a little boy, sprinting through the thick patches because we were scared to walk through them,' he said. 

'We were coming down the canyon road, and it looked like we were running through water. They would just part for us. So yeah, I've dealt with this before.'

Now, in 2025, history is repeating itself. A dry winter and mild weather have allowed cricket eggs to survive in large numbers.

Pest control companies say spring and fall are their busiest times, and they're urging homeowners to take action early.

Back in 2003, Mormon crickets infested western Utah, affecting around 2.7 million acres of farmland and desert. 

Residents reported the insects chewing through home siding and other materials. It was one of the most damaging outbreaks in recent memory.

Many Utahns recall that historic infestation, which destroyed crops until the so-called 'miracle of the gulls,' when flocks of seagulls arrived and ate the crickets, saving much of the harvest.

Now, local officials are once again working to control recurring outbreaks. The state is considering increased pesticide use and financial aid programs to help farmers deal with the damage.

If you're dealing with a Mormon cricket infestation in Utah, contact Utah State University (USU) Extension or the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). 

They provide pest reporting tools and treatment services via phone, email, or their websites.

Meanwhile, a new bill in the state legislature aims to rename the insect. 

Critics argue the term 'Mormon cricket' wrongly links the pest to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

This year's outbreak is another reminder of how pest infestations in the American West often follow patterns driven by weather, climate, and local ecosystems.