Despite its name, the Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex) is not a true cricket but a shield-backed katydid. It earned its common name from the 1848 plague that threatened Mormon settlers' crops in Utah — famously ended by flocks of California gulls. Mormon crickets are large, flightless insects with a distinctive shield-like plate covering their thorax. They are found in the higher-elevation areas of northern and eastern Arizona, particularly in sagebrush and grassland habitats. Under outbreak conditions, they form massive migratory bands of millions of individuals that march across the landscape consuming virtually all vegetation in their path. These bands can travel up to a mile per day and cause devastating crop and range losses. In Arizona, outbreaks occur periodically and can affect rural communities and agricultural areas.
👁Warning Signs
Large, dark, flightless insects in fields, roadsides, and gardens. Marching bands of insects moving in a consistent direction. Severe defoliation of crops and range plants. Crunching sounds from large aggregations.
⚠Health & Property Risks
No medical risk to humans. Severe agricultural and garden damage during outbreak years. Can create road hazards when bands cross highways in large numbers.
Prevention Tips
Monitor for early-season nymph aggregations. Barrier treatments around garden perimeters. Coordinate with county agricultural extension during outbreak years.
🛡Professional Treatment
Bait formulations containing carbaryl or diflubenzuron applied along migration routes. Professional and coordinated county-level treatment programs during major outbreaks.
Frequently Asked Questions — Mormon Cricket
The Mormon Cricket (Anabrus simplex) is variable — green, brown, black, or reddish and typically measures 1–2½ inches. Despite its name, the Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex) is not a true cricket but a shield-backed katydid. It earned its common name from the 1848 plague that threatened Mormon settlers' crops in Utah.
The Mormon Cricket is generally low-risk, but caution is still advised. No medical risk to humans. Severe agricultural and garden damage during outbreak years. Can create road hazards when bands cross highways in large numbers.
In Arizona, mormon crickets are most often encountered in the following situations: Large, dark, flightless insects in fields, roadsides, and gardens. Marching bands of insects moving in a consistent direction. Severe defoliation of crops and range plants. Crunching sounds from large aggregations.
The Mormon Cricket is most active during: Spring through summer; outbreak years vary. Arizona's warm desert climate can extend activity periods compared to other states, so year-round vigilance is recommended in the Phoenix metro and surrounding areas.
Monitor for early-season nymph aggregations. Barrier treatments around garden perimeters. Coordinate with county agricultural extension during outbreak years.
Bait formulations containing carbaryl or diflubenzuron applied along migration routes. Professional and coordinated county-level treatment programs during major outbreaks.
Male crickets produce their characteristic chirp by rubbing their wings together (stridulation) to attract mates. Reducing outdoor lighting (which attracts crickets), sealing entry points, and eliminating harborage areas near the home are the most effective ways to reduce noise. Pest Control Bros can treat perimeter areas to significantly lower cricket populations.
Dealing with Mormon Cricket?
Pest Control Bros LLC serves Maricopa, Chandler, Casa Grande, Tempe, Gilbert, and Mesa. No contracts. Free inspections. Same-week service.
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