SEATTLE—
Well this sounds kind of creepy.
We could be looking at the worst grasshopper outbreak in 30 years. "In some areas there will indeed be masses, and there will be big masses of grasshoppers," said Richard Zack, an associate professor of Entomology at Washington State University.Scientists for Washington State University say a relatively mild spring has set the stage for a major grasshopper infestation.
Grasshoppers can travel up to 50 miles a day looking for food. The critical areas projected to be at risk in Washington state are lands that lie in the high desert regions near Othello, Yakima and the Tri-Cities.
There are also warnings for an outbreak of what's commonly known as the "Mormon Cricket," an insect that doesn't fly, but travels in tight packs by the tens of thousands devouring everything in its path.
The grasshopper infestation is expected to hit its peak in late July and early August as summertime heat dries up open rangeland, while nearby crops are just hitting their stride. Federal agents are looking into pesticide options to control these insects.
Last summer, grasshopper infestations wiped out 7,000 acres of grassland in southeastern Oregon.
