Grasshoppers in Las Vegas; the good, the bad, the weird – KLAS – 8 News Now

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) With recent grasshopper sightings in the Las Vegas valley, many locals are concerned there may be a repeat of 2019. Grasshoppers swarming high-traffic areas, blotting out streetlights, and causing general unease to those fearful of bugs.

However, experts arent convinced that a repeat of the 2019 invasion is on the horizon.

There may be a burst from the heavy monsoon rains a month ago, said Professor Allen Gibbs of UNLVs Department of Life Sciences, but I do not expect millions to appear on the Strip like they did in 2019.

That outbreak, Gibbs said, was most likely caused by heavy spring rains, then lots of plant growth. But, beyond plant growth, theres something else in Las Vegas that attracts bugs by the thousands. Light.

Grasshoppers, and insects more generally, are attracted to light, particularly ultraviolet light, according to Jeff Knight, state entomologist for the Nevada Department of Agriculture. This is why Las Vegas, the brightest place on earth, is so enticing to hoards of grasshoppers.

One tip Knight gives to those fearful of swarms surrounding their homes is to replace their lights. If you change the light to one that produces less ultraviolet, then the grasshoppers wont be attracted to it, Knight said.

Thousands of grasshoppers encircling a brightly lit ultraviolet light may give some people the heebie-jeebies, but is there any real danger present? Knight says no. Theres nothing theyre really going to do to people other than be scary.

The grasshoppers responsible for the 2019 takeover are not considered pests. They dont carry diseases, they dont bite, nor do they severely damage crops, all things Knight says define pests. Theyre a pest only because theyre in big numbers, not because theyre doing anything.

Knight says that Nevada has 103 species of grasshoppers, and only nine are considered pests. But the particular species that took over the valley in 2019, as noted, are not considered such.

The pallid-winged grasshopper is what took over the Las Vegas strip in 2019. It is a common species native to the deserts of western North America.

A common misconception is that locusts were the insects swarming the valley, however, all grasshoppers are locusts, but not all locusts are grasshoppers, according to Knight.

He said locusts are grasshoppers that have undergone morphological changes, commonly resulting in bigger, longer wings. Locusts are basically a few species of grasshopper that can form swarms when they are overcrowded and start running out of food, noted Gibbs.

Gibbs said the classic examples are in Africa, where they can wipe out crops over large areas.

Gibbs also mentioned that many of the current sounds and sightings may not even be grasshoppers, but rather, crickets. From online reports and personal conversations about chirping, I think a lot of the recent buzz is about crickets, Gibbs said. Grasshoppers are pretty quiet, except for a buzzing sound when flying.

While thousands of bugs crowding lights and peoples homes may be frightening, its not all bad.

For many birds, lizards, coyotes, and other animals, these insects are a valuable food source. Knight also notes that grasshoppers can be valuable sources of nutrient recycling. A process in which the bugs eat plant material that can ultimately be used by plants again.

Knight says its no different than using manure or compost on plants. So, despite the small size of these insects, their contribution to plant life is considerable, especially when taking into account the sheer number of them.

While many locals have already reported seeing swarms of grasshoppers, its nothing close to what happened three years ago.

Knight says around this time of the year, the adults are dying off, but have laid their eggs. The eggs usually hatch in spring. So, whether well see a repeat in 2023 has yet to be determined.

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Grasshoppers in Las Vegas; the good, the bad, the weird - KLAS - 8 News Now