thumb|Anabrus simplex green form of female, ovipositing in soil.
The Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex) is a large insect native to western North America in rangelands dominated by sagebrush and forbs. Anabrus is a genus in the shield-backed katydid subfamily in the Tettigoniidae family, commonly called katydids, bush crickets, and previously "long-horned grasshoppers." Its common name, "Mormon cricket," is a misnomer: true crickets are of the family Gryllidae.
The Mormon cricket takes its common name from the prominent role it played in the story of the miracle of the gulls after the Mormon settlers in Utah had encountered them while pushing westward.
Although flightless, the Mormon cricket may travel up to two kilometres a day in its swarming phase during which it may be a serious agricultural pest and sometimes a traffic hazard.
Description
Mormon crickets can grow to almost in length. Individuals vary in coloration: the overall color may be black, brown, red, purple or green. The pronotum, the dorsal "shield" above the prothorax, covers vestigial wings); in some specimens it bears colored markings. The abdomen may have a striped appearance. Like many Tettigoniidae, females have a long ovipositor, which should not be mistaken for a stinger.
As is characteristic of Tettigoniidae, the antennae are long and filamentous. They are in general longer than the head plus body, though the ovipositor extends to beyond the ends of the antennae.
As also is the case in swarming locusts, high population densities of swarming Mormon crickets cause them to undergo changes in morphology and coloration: solitaria, individuals in the solitary phase, typically have green or purple coloration, while swarming individuals, gregaria, are often black, brown or red.
Life cycle
thumb|200px|Utah, October 2005
Mormon cricket eggs hatch mostly in the spring after they are laid, although in some areas eggs may take as many as five years to hatch. Hatching begins when soil temperatures reach . The nymphs pass through seven instars before reaching the adult stage, typically taking 60 to 90 days.
Breeding begins within 10 to 14 days of reaching the adult stage. The male passes to the female a large spermatophore which can be up to 27% of his body weight. The spermatophore is mostly food for the female to consume but also contains sperm to fertilize her eggs. This nuptial gift causes swarming-phase females to compete for males, a behavior not seen in solitary-phase females.
When a large band crosses a road, it can create a safety hazard for drivers and anyone in their vicinity by causing distracted revulsion on the part of the driver. It also creates a safety hazard by causing the road surface to become slick with crushed crickets. The crickets can cause devastation to agriculture. Mormon crickets also eat insects, including other Mormon crickets, especially individuals that have been killed or injured by automobiles or insecticides. Cannibalistic behavior may be a result of protein and salt deficiency. Swarming behavior may in turn be a strategy to avoid predation by other Mormon crickets.</blockquote>
Control
thumb|200px|Multicolored swarm in Nevada, 2002.
Mormon crickets are preyed upon by a wide variety of birds and mammals. These predators include California gulls, crows, coyotes, and various rodents. There are no predators that specialize on Mormon crickets, and this may be explained by the cricket's migratory habits and large population fluctuations. Gordius robustus, a species of horsehair worm, is a parasite of the Mormon cricket, as is Ooencyrtus anabrivorus.
The most common chemical control method used is carbaryl (typically sold as "Sevin Dust") bait. This bait kills both the Mormon crickets that eat the bait and the crickets that eat crickets that have eaten the bait. Insecticides applied directly to crops may kill the insects, but due to the large size of swarms, this method usually does not save the crop from being destroyed.
As Mormon crickets are flightless, physical barriers may be effective. Barriers should be at least two feet high and made of a smooth material. Residents of some small towns have used boom boxes and sound systems playing hard rock music in attempts to divert the moving swarms away from crops and houses.
Another method for the control of Mormon crickets is the use of a biopesticide based on the fungus Nosema locustae. N. locustae is a naturally occurring microbe the spores of which kill orthopterans by interfering with the digestive system. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, its use has no adverse effect on humans or the environment.
Historical
Mormon crickets appear in some traditional Native American diets such as that of the Achomawi.
An infestation of Mormon crickets in the Salt Lake Valley the late 1840s decimated the crops of Latter-day Saint colonists in the area, which is why they are referred to as Mormon crickets. This is most famously recalled in the "Miracle of the gulls" story.
In 2003, officials in Utah, Idaho and Nevada said that year's infestation might be the worst in recent history.