mormon cricket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Historical, Technical (Entomology, Agriculture)
Quick answer
What does “mormon cricket” mean?
A large, flightless insect (Anabrus simplex), resembling a katydid or grasshopper, native to western North America, historically known for its destructive migratory swarms.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, flightless insect (Anabrus simplex), resembling a katydid or grasshopper, native to western North America, historically known for its destructive migratory swarms.
In historical contexts, refers to the massive swarms of these insects that plagued early Mormon settlers' crops in Utah, giving the species its common name. In ecology, denotes a significant pest species whose population outbreaks can dramatically impact rangeland and agriculture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is predominantly used in American English, specifically in regions of the western United States where the insect is native. In British English, it is a highly specialised term, likely only encountered in historical or entomological texts.
Connotations
In American English (particularly Western US), it carries strong historical and regional connotations related to pioneer history and agricultural challenges. In British English, it lacks these cultural associations and is a purely zoological/historical reference.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general British English; low-to-medium frequency in American English within relevant geographical and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mormon cricket” in a Sentence
[The/An] Mormon cricket [verb e.g., swarmed, devoured, migrated][Subject] was plagued by Mormon cricketsMormon crickets are [adjective e.g., destructive, native, flightless]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mormon cricket” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fields were utterly mormon-cricketed, leaving nothing but stalks.
- (Note: Extremely rare and non-standard verb use)
American English
- The rangeland got mormon-cricketed last summer, costing ranchers thousands.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use)
adjective
British English
- They faced a Mormon-cricket crisis of biblical proportions.
American English
- The state implemented a Mormon-cricket management program.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in agricultural insurance, pest control services, or regional historical tourism.
Academic
Used in history (US Western expansion), ecology, entomology, and agricultural science papers.
Everyday
Very rare in general conversation outside the native range of the insect. May be used in local news reports during outbreak years.
Technical
Standard term in entomology and integrated pest management (IPM) for the western United States.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mormon cricket”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mormon cricket”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mormon cricket”
- Incorrectly classifying it as a true cricket (it is a katydid).
- Using the term outside of its specific geographical/historical context where it may not be understood.
- Misspelling as 'Morman cricket'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a true locust (which are a type of grasshopper). It is a katydid. However, its behaviour of forming massive, destructive migratory bands is similar to that of locusts.
It is named for the Mormon pioneers who settled in Utah's Salt Lake Valley in 1847 and subsequently suffered catastrophic crop losses due to swarms of these insects in 1848.
No, they are flightless. They migrate by walking in large, coordinated bands, which can contain millions of individuals.
Yes, cyclical population outbreaks still occur in the western United States, causing significant damage to rangeland, crops, and even creating hazards on roads.
A large, flightless insect (Anabrus simplex), resembling a katydid or grasshopper, native to western North America, historically known for its destructive migratory swarms.
Mormon cricket is usually formal, historical, technical (entomology, agriculture) in register.
Mormon cricket: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɔː.mən ˌkrɪk.ɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɔːr.mən ˌkrɪk.ɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms; historical event referenced as 'the Mormon cricket plague' or 'visitation of the crickets']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine early MORMON settlers in Utah seeing a massive swarm of insects; the 'Mormon' settlers + the 'cricket'-like insect = MORMON CRICKET.
Conceptual Metaphor
A plague/biblical scourge (due to its historical mass infestations). An unstoppable force (referencing its marching swarms).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'Mormon cricket' most accurately classified as?