Mormon cricket

American  

noun

1. a flightless, long-horned grasshopper, Anabrus simplex, of the western U.S., that is destructive to range grasses and cultivated crops.

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Etymology

Origin of Mormon cricket

First recorded in 1895–1900; so named because found where the Mormons settled

Example Sentences

In Oregon, state lawmakers in recent years have allocated millions of dollars to assess the problem and set up a Mormon cricket and grasshopper “suppression” program.

From Seattle Times

The Mormon cricket is not a true cricket but a shield-backed katydid.

From Seattle Times

Tens of thousands of Mormon cricket eggs buried about an inch deep in the soil began to hatch in late May and early June.

From Seattle Times

The Southwest is experiencing a severe drought, which the university said “encourages Mormon cricket outbreaks” that may last five to 21 years and “cause substantial economic losses to rangeland, cropland and home gardens.”

From New York Times

Since the 1990s, the Mormon cricket population has been surging, particularly in Nevada, the University of Nevada, Reno, said.

From New York Times