robustus, a species of horsehair worm, is a parasite of the Mormon cricket, as is Ooencyrtus anabrivorus. The most common chemical control method used is carbaryl (typically sold as "Sevin Dust") bait. This bait kills both the Mormon crickets that eat the bait, and the crickets that eat crickets that have eaten the bait. Insecticides applied directly to crops may kill the insects, but due to the large size of swarms, this method usually does not save the crop from being destroyed. As Mormon crickets are flightless, physical barriers may be effective. Barriers should be at least two feet high and made of a smooth material. Residents of some small towns have used boom boxes and sound systems playing hard rock music in attempts to divert the moving swarms away from crops and houses. Another method for the control of Mormon crickets is the use of a biopesticide based on the fungus Nosema locustae. N. locustae is a naturally occurring microbe the spores of which kill orthopterans by interfering with the digestive system. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, its use has no adverse effect on humans or the environment. Historical Mormon crickets appear in some traditional Native American diets. In 2003, officials in Utah, Idaho and Nevada said that year's infestation might be the worst in recent history. References External links Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex), University of Florida description page with images and male cricket song From Ants to People, an Instinct to Swarm, New York Times article Insects of the United States Tettigoniinae Insects described in 1852 Taxa named by Samuel Stehman Haldeman