Crickets Terrorize Oklahoma

Here at home, we have sand gnats.  In Oklahoma, they have cricket season. 

Yep, it's mating cricket season, and there's an unusually massive swarm of the bugs now.  Oklahoma residents are not happy about it.

And it's not just the number of crickets that's the problem.  They also have a bad odor, they have a shrieking chirp, and they have a tendency toward cannibalism so that means killing them only makes things worse.

Basically, the crickets tend to congregate and feed on carcasses. 

They are now covering every street, sidewalk and building.  You just can't avoid the occasional crunch when you walk.

You may even be tempted to stomp them, but that actually makes it worse. 

But why am I covering this topic?  Well, the problem could be weather related.

Experts say this can happen after periods of prolonged dry weather in spring and early summer followed by rainfall in July and August.  Also, extensive soil cracking may be an important factor.

At this point, it could last another eight weeks. wsav