ABSTRACT
The Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex Haldeman, is a flightless, shield-backed grasshopper which occurs primarily in the Great Plains and sagebrush-dominated regions of western United States and Canada. It is a gregarious insect and is probably best known for its huge migratory aggregations, or bands. Because knowledge of Mormon cricket biology is so limited, a comprehensive ecological review is impossible. Most of the voluminous body of literature on Mormon crickets is old and is primarily concerned with describing the life cycle and control measures. The name "Mormon cricket" applies to Anabrus simplex Haldeman, though it has also been used for congeners, due to their great similarity in appearance and biology. Mormon crickets are univoltine, early-season insects, hatching in early spring from eggs laid singly in the ground during the preceding summer. The nymphs develop through 7 stadia before the final molt to adults, with a total lifespan of about 100 days.
