Visitreno

[JD]

Maybe I should say, "Mormon Crickets", are on the way that is.

Before the board got wiped clean, we used to have quite the thread on the march of the crickets each year. Many didn't know the historical story behind these insects that nearly wiped out the early Salt Lake City settlement and the sea gulls that saved the day.

Well, they're back. At least the stories about them are back. From Monday's Reno Gazette Journal:

"For the last six summers, Mormon crickets -- an insect made infamous by nearly destroying the crops of Utah's Mormon settlers in 1848 -- have infested vast stretches of Nevada, Utah and Idaho. Last year, an estimated 12 million acres of Nevada were overrun by the bugs."

And go on again this summer it probably will, said Jeff Knight, Nevada state entomologist.

While a heavy winter and early spring appears to have slowed and perhaps diminished the cricket infestation for 2006, the Nevada Department of Agriculture has recently received reports of crickets "hatching pretty well across the state," Knight said.

"Trouble areas are north of Reno in Palomino Valley, Hungry Valley and at the Moonrocks, Knight said. Crickets also are hatching near Austin, Battle Mountain and Winnemucca."

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Maybe they should be called Donner Party Crickets.

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060424/NEWS10/604240339/1016/NEWS

JD

[JD]

OK...so NO ONE said a word last year. This year, it seems they're early.

Now be on the lookout for...maybe we should call the LDS crickets.

Hell, you can call 'em grasshoppers for all I care. But they ARE COMING !!!

"In what is becoming a nasty rite of spring in Northern Nevada, Mormon crickets are hatching and creeping around the landscape.

That means an infestation that has lasted at least seven straight years should continue through the summer with little sign of letting up, experts said.

Most Mormon cricket infestations last two or three years. The scope of this event is unexpected, said Jeff Knight, Nevada state entomologist."

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070316/NEWS10/703160457/1016/NEWS

[Mammothgambler]

That sounds pretty creepy. Hopefully they'll stay outside the city and won't carry the casinos away.

floridagambler

[JD]

Ya, Ya...nobody likes my cricket stories. But my job is to bring you all the cricket news that's fit to print.

I sure do't want to turn this into a political topic...but now that "Harry the Body" Reid has more clout in DC:

Not only is he working to get US troops out of Iraq, but he's equally concerned ($20 million worth) about getting the crickets out of Nevada.

He's stuffed cricket cash to the Iraq funding bill. Maybe we will see some protest signs, " Crickets out of Carson" .

"This is not to belittle the threat of a cricket infestation in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's home state of Nevada (part of a $20 million line item), the importance of "ewe replacement and retention" ($13 million), security for the two major party national conventions next year ($100 million), guided tours for the Capitol ($3.5 million), the need to store the peanut crop in a safe, dry place ($74 million) or assistance for spinach growers hit by the E. coli outbreak ($25 million). "

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/29/EDGRJN7CBR1.DTL

(Now remember, this is a cricket story)

[stan_allen]

Well, remember that for Nancy Pelosi to get her intent-to-cut-and-run bill passed, she had to allow everyone to stuff it with more pork than a Chinese New Year banquet.

But we digress; as long as the bill adds crickets to the list of things forbidden in the casino, everything will be fine.

[JD]

From today's Reno Gazette Journal: (I'm not making this up)

"GOT CRICKETS?
Anyone spotting Mormon crickets is asked to report them to the Nevada Department of Agriculture. In the Reno area, call 775-688-1182, extension 245. "

"State entomologists were working Friday to stop the spread of Mormon crickets, which are munching their way through weeds, thistle and crops east of Reno on Interstate 80 near Patrick.

Using a pesticide as ground bait, entomologists have spent the past three days trying to stop their westward movement.

They think they've been successful, said state entomologist Jeff Knight, who thanked the many land owners near Patrick for allowing them land access.

"We've had various reports of crickets across the state," he said. "Basically, Patrick was the first one that was a critical one because a small band had hit the freeway."

link: http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070519/NEWS10/705190349/1016/NEWS



Edited to add:

Good catch Swede. That one almost got by me. I especially like the report that makes it sound like a new LA gang is claiming new turf.

"A wandering band of Mormon crickets invaded the Berube's neighborhood above Los Altos Parkway and D'Andrea Golf Club on Thursday."

They don't wear red or blue, but more of a tabacco juice color when they get shot... or so I'm told.

[CaSwede]

Hey JD (Morman cricket expert) they are in Sparks! Watch out. Anyone remember the movie "The Birds" ?

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070525/NEWS10/705250490/1321/NEWS

[CaSwede]

JD- I know you would be interested in this. They are expanding the Morman Station, so the Morman crickets will have a bigger place to stay when they come to town next year.

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070715/NEWS/707150354/1144

[JD]

My, my... April already !

Perhaps it's the economy, or maybe it's higher gas prices.

But the experts say there will be fewer LDS crickets in Nevada this year.

Since it's my duty to keep visitreno.com readers up to date on all the Mormon Cricket news...from today's RGJ:

"ELKO -- The number of acres infested by Mormon crickets substantially dropped in Nevada last year and should remain relatively low for the next few years, state entomologist Jeff Knight predicts.

Knight offered his projections to Elko County commissioners Thursday about the multicolored cannibalistic creatures that move in swarms, devouring crops, gardens, lawns and each other."
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For full article:

http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080405/NEWS/804050338/1321

[hawk]

Wow, JD, you did it again. I was getting a bit bored watching the Final Four and a 3 point ball game at the half.
Now you bring us an item of REAL INTEREST to all bored members.

Thanks for keeping us informed of hot historical events and invasions (of crickets and what ever else).

(aside and personal: Hope you get to make the trip to Reno soon and that work eases a bit unless you really want all those hours. Cheers!)

[JD]

From the Nevada Appeal:

"RENO — Mormon crickets are on the march in northeast Nevada but experts say the 8-year-old infestation appears to be continuing a slow decline.

“I would say it’s going to be about the same as last year, which was down quite a bit,” said Jeff Knight, Nevada state entomologist. “Maybe it will be a little less.”

The infestation peaked in 2005, when about 12 million acres of Nevada were infested with the insect made infamous by nearly destroying the crops of Utah’s Mormon settlers in 1848."

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20080521/NEWS01/123708427



Well, MY job here is done.

[CaSwede]

Good, we now have our annual Mormon Cricket report.

Could it be that JD has a Cricket fetish?

[stan_allen]

I find hilarious the image of the economy being blamed for the crickets' lackluster appearance this year.
Global warming will probably be trotted out for blame, too, and ultimately George Bush, but in the meantime, I'm waiting to hear Harry Reid putting forth a bill offering assistance to crickets whose sub-prime mortgaged homes are facing foreclosure.

[JD]

The Mormons are a little late this year. Or maybe they couldn't find a cub reporter to take this assignmnet. But here's my annual story.

"Mormon crickets are once again on the move across Northern Nevada, but an expert with the state Department of Agriculture predicts the bug problem should be far less than years past.


A wet, cool spring slowed development of the large insects, and ongoing control programs are helping curtail them, state entomologist Jeff Knight said."


"The onslaught in the state and a number of outbreaks through history have been related to droughts," he said. "But what makes them continue or what makes them drop off, nobody really knows."


http://www.rgj.com/article/20090627/NEWS/906270333/1321

[john]