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Watch: Endless sea of crickets overrun Idaho highway

By Catherine Stoddard
Updated  July 22, 2022 5:25pm EDT
Unusual
FOX TV Digital Team

Tractor used to clear sea of Mormon crickets off Idaho highway

Maintenance crews from the Idaho Transportation Department cleared a seemingly endless trail of Mormon crickets off a highway in southwest Idaho on July 11. (Credit: Idaho Transportation Department via Storyful)

An Idaho highway was literally overrun with so many Mormon crickets that the state’s transportation department had to get a tractor to clear the road, according to shocking video shared on Twitter.  

The Idaho Transportation Department showed a tractor leisurely making its way down the highway as it swept the crickets to the shoulder earlier this month. As it motors along, the horrifying crunching noise of the insects can be heard in the footage.  

According to local news media, the crickets — which, despite their nickname, are actually shieldbacked katydids — make an annual appearance across several western states including Idaho, Utah, Oregon and Nevada. 

Mormon cricket still edit

FILE - Freeze frame from video showing tractor clearing the roadway of a seemingly endless sea of Mormon crickets. (Idaho Transportation Department via Storyful)

"Mormon crickets are taking over the road this season!" the Twitter post read. 

The bugs not only create slick spots on highways but also can devour crops in the area, KBOI said. 

Mormon-cricket-close-up.jpg

FILE - Close-up image of a Mormon cricket in Idaho. (MyLoupe/UIG Via Getty Images)

In fact, during a particularly huge outbreak in 1937, Mormon crickets caused over $880,000 in damage in Montana and Wyoming, according to the University of Wyoming.  

Storyful contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.