Mormon Crickets Invading Western States

Yahoo! News ^ | 6/13/03 | Sandra Chereb - AP

[NormsRevenge]

As the cricket chirps

[NormsRevenge]

This IS very series, It could be HugH.

How are the FReepers in these areas doing?

Let us know. Seriously ;-)

[southernnorthcarolina]

They each have four wives, ride bicycles, and knock on your door at dinnertime.

[bedolido]

I live in Boise Idaho. We've had these (north of us about 40 miles) ever year for the past 5 or so. Driving up to McCall you actually have to slow down or you can lose control as you drive over previously smash millions, smashing thousands as you go.

great bate for fishing though...

[NormsRevenge]

Their voracious appetites take in anything — sagebrush, alfalfa, wheat, barley, clover, seeds, grasses, vegetables. At a density of just one cricket per square yard, they can consume 38 pounds of forage per acre as they pass through an area. They don't fly, but can hop and crawl a mile in a day and up to 50 miles in a season. And before they die in the fall, they lay the eggs that will become next year's swarm.

Impressive.. Marines can hop and crawl a mile and fly too .. and also have voracious appetites. ;-)

[JennysCool]

I'm right in the heart of this. It's like being in a 1950s sci-fi movie.

[NormsRevenge]

Mormon Cricket Control in Utah... some interesting info.

Looks like Sevin pesticide bait is the preferred method for tackling these buggers.

[NormsRevenge]

This lady must be thinking.. "Should I use a 2 by 4 or a net? " ;-)

Fri Jun 13,10:56 AM ET

Janette O'Hair looks at one of the Mormon crickets on her house in Palomino Valley north of Reno, Nev., Thursday, June 12, 2003. O'Hair said it was the first time she had seen the crickets in her area. Swarms of Mormon crickets are marching across the West, destroying rangeland and crops, slickening highways with their carcasses and leaving disgusted residents in their wake. (AP Photo/Debra Reid)

[CCWoody]

"You drive down the street and they pop like bubble wrap."

[JennysCool]

Tell ya what, these cricket dudes is no fun at all. We've had thousands in our parking lot all week long.

[TontoKowalski]

They each have four wives, ride bicycles, and knock on your door at dinnertime.

Sounds familiar. They've got this new "Do Not Call" Registry for telemarketers. I want a "Do Not Visit" Registry for door-to-door religious types.

[RnMomof7]

Just do not take any books from them and you will be fine

[Alex Murphy]

What's really cool to see is when they shed their carapaces. Underneath, they have this whitish layer, with odd markings, that only extends about half-way down their legs.

[Norse]

WHERE is that DARN golden SEAGUL when you need it???

LOL...it's probably on planet Kolob trying to reach godhood..LOL!!!!

[StatesEnemy]

Two summers ago, I pedaled across Saskatchewan during one of the worst droughts/hopper infestation the region had seen in ages - and a thought came to me:

All these fat little eating machines (dozens in every square yard) represent a huge, easily collected source of proteins and fats.

Now I'm not suggesting we make cootie-burgers for human consumption, but couldn't this resource be sent off to rendering plants for animal feeds?

One plus... no worry about BSE.

[dljordan]

Yeah, and but the critters won't burglarize your house, turn over your garbage and get your dog pregnant like Marines will. (Former Naval Person)

[Wrigley]

But they're probably very good with gardening.

[CCWoody]

All these fat little eating machines (dozens in every square yard) represent a huge, easily collected source of proteins and fats.

BWAHAHAHAHA! What do they taste like?

Woody.

[NormsRevenge]

Good point, big birds would probably love these crunchy little fellas.

Heck, what about all the unwanted Canadian geese from Seattle and the Northwest? Ship 'em to this area.

They could probably eat a few pounds of these little fellas a day themselves.

[SwinneySwitch]

In the 1800's, Indians would roast them and have a feast!