Utah Prepares for Surge of Mormon Crickets and Grasshoppers

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is monitoring and taking action to control the pest populations.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:03am

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circular motifs, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the scale and structural chaos of Mormon cricket and grasshopper swarms impacting Utah's rangelands.A conceptual illustration of the swarming patterns and destructive impact of Utah's Mormon cricket and grasshopper infestations, which the state's agriculture department is working to control.Salt Lake City Today

Mormon crickets and grasshoppers are hatching in Utah, and the state's Department of Agriculture and Food is working to get ahead of the potential widespread impacts. The UDAF has already begun surveying areas with significant cricket populations and is coordinating with landowners on control efforts before the pests spread further.

Why it matters

Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets can devastate rangeland, agricultural production, and other natural resources when their populations surge. Early monitoring and targeted control measures are crucial to preventing widespread damage, especially in drought years when forage is already scarce.

The details

The UDAF has already found large populations of Mormon crickets in the Uintah Basin and is working with landowners there on control options. While the freeze last year may have thinned out the cricket population, the agency expects to see a rise in numbers this year. Crickets and grasshoppers are known for traveling in massive swarms that can strip vegetation, creating challenges for livestock producers.

  • The UDAF has already begun early-season monitoring and surveying for Mormon cricket and grasshopper populations.
  • Peak hatching season for Mormon crickets is already underway.
  • Grasshopper hatching is expected to peak in about a month.

The players

Robert Huggard

Director of Plant Industry at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

The state agency responsible for monitoring and controlling rangeland pests like Mormon crickets and grasshoppers.

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What they’re saying

“We were at the Uintah Basin just this week and found a fairly large population there, so we will be working with those landowners to do some control if they choose to.”

— Robert Huggard, Director of Plant Industry

“If they are at high populations, it looks like the ground is moving; there are so many.”

— Robert Huggard, Director of Plant Industry

What’s next

The UDAF is ready to help landowners treat known affected areas before the pest populations peak and spread further.

The takeaway

Early monitoring and targeted control efforts by the UDAF are crucial to preventing widespread damage from surging Mormon cricket and grasshopper populations, which can devastate rangeland, agriculture, and natural resources, especially in drought years.