Mormon crickets are flightless, ground-dwelling insects native to the western United States. They eat native, herbaceous perennials (forbs), grasses, shrubs and cultivated forage crops, reducing feed for grazing wildlife and livestock. In large numbers, their feeding can contribute to soil erosion, poor water quality, nutrient-depleted soils, and potentially cause damage to range and cropland ecosystems.
Drought encourages Mormon cricket outbreaks, which may last several years (historically 5 to 21 years) and cause substantial economic losses to rangeland, cropland and home gardens. This is particularly true as adults and nymphs of Mormon crickets migrate in a band, eating plants along their path. Scan the QR code for additional information from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
Mormon crickets (crickets) have occupied Rio Blanco County for many years. Unfortunately, 2023 saw an exponential increase in the crickets as they expanded their numbers and range significantly. Fields, roads, homes, corrals, etc., were covered with crickets. Crickets were the topic of conversation for many throughout the summer.
CSU Extension, Rio Blanco County, Moffat County, White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and a couple of landowners met in July to discuss the situation. They soon realized there was little that could be done at that time due to the late stage of the crickets and the thousands of acres they occupied. The group agreed to reconvene this fall and plan for the Spring of 2024 in case the crickets are still rampant in the two counties.
The agencies met again this fall to begin coordinating resources for addressing the cricket population in spring 2024. The White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts have secured a $50,000 matching grant through the Colorado State Conservation Board, Dept. of Agriculture to aerial spray crickets on private land. The Districts are seeking the required 1:1 match for these funds and are hopeful that Rio Blanco and Moffat County, BLM, and APHIS will budget funds to help spray the large acreages required to effectively control crickets.
This coordinated effort will only be successful with help from landowners and outdoorsmen. Crickets typically lay their eggs in late August and early September. Therefore, it is critical to get a good map of the locations of crickets at that time. Rio Blanco County citizens are asked to fill out a very short survey to help identify where they saw crickets in September of this year. Please visit whiterivercd.com for a link to the survey.
Early next year, citizens will be asked to help identify locations where crickets hatch so that we can map more specific locations to be sprayed and collect landowner permission forms. We will communicate through a newspaper article and the Districts’ website as the time approaches.
For questions, please contact the White River & Douglas Creek Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 or Rio Blanco County at 970-878-9586.
BY CALLIE SCRITCHFIELD
White River/Douglas Creek Conservation District
Did you see Mormon crickets in the county during September? Click the link to help us create a mitigation map! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPayHJGTe8DEa-rPqMjeEXK-MdFzrG_L735wrlvT45ytdSaA/viewform?pli=1
