They're everywhere: Unusually large swarms of crickets are invading Oklahoma, covering streets, sidewalks, and businesses like this McDonalds
It’s cricket mating season in Oklahoma and unusually massive swarms of the frisky bugs are terrorizing the state’s residents.
Not only does the field cricket have a noxious odor and shrieking chirp, it has a tendency toward cannibalism so killing them only makes things worse.
Residents say the insects tend to congregate and feed on carcasses of their dead brethren, but they’re covering every street, sidewalk, and building so there’s no way to avoid the occasional crunch.
Pile-up: The crickets are difficult to control, noisy, smelly and are pouring into towns across the Sooner State. Instagram user furiousd caught this particularly nasty pile of cricket carcasses
The more they’re stomped, worse infestations around homes and businesses become.
‘I think we are going to see a little more before it gets any better,’ Oklahoma State University’s Brian Jervis told KTUL.
Experts say weather could be the cause of the usually large swarm.
‘These outbreaks seem to occur after periods of prolonged dry weather in spring and early summer followed by rainfall in July and August,’ said Rick Grantham, director of the Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Lab in Oklahoma State University. ‘Extensive soil cracking may be an important factor.’
Bad year: The crickets come out every year, but the weather allowed an unusually large number to emerge from their burrows to mate this season. Here, the critters congregate at a gas station.
Cannibals: Experts say the crickets are attracted to the bodies of their dead relatives, so crushing the bugs only makes the problem worse. Here, a pile up can be seen near a shady set of stairs.
'A plague has arrived': According to Rick Grantham of Oklahoma State University's Entymology department. adult crickets can be very difficult to control
The crickets lay their eggs and crawl out en masse once it’s time for mating.
And though the creatures can be tough to get rid of, experts suggest a few tricks that might ease the problem somewhat.
‘Crickets commonly spend the daylight hours hiding in dark, damp areas. Eliminating piles of bricks, stones, wood or other debris around the home will help reduce numbers,’ said Grantham. ‘aerosols applied to baseboards, door thresholds and cracks and crevices where crickets hide will normally control them.’
In addition to incessant chirping that can last deep into the night and early morning, some residents say the crickets even stink.
'After a while they all start dying and it gets to get this rotted meat smell,' one resident told KFOR.
'I will not be sleeping tonight': The crickets stick to walls, crunch underfoot wherever residents walk, and hang from walls and window screens, making just looking outside a little bit creepy
Along with up close and personal photos of their cricket experiences, Instagram users had plenty to say about the '#invasion.'
'When I look out my window, this is what I see. Needless to say I will not be sleeping tonight,' writes c_daaber721 with a photo of her cricket-covered window screen.
'A plague has arrived in OKC,' writes colleendamager.
Gypsyroseb asked, 'Crickets, anyone?'
User xnebulousx may have siad it best: 'Large amounts of crickets are gross!'
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