Will Crickets Invade San Antonio Again This Year?

San Antonio experienced quite the cricket invasion last October.

Several local business were completely inundated with the hopping insects.

With 2020 being completely unpredictable with the onset of the global pandemic, the invasion of murder hornets, and wildfires sweeping the nation, residents want to know what they can expect from the cricket population this year.

Officials from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stated that the Alamo City likely will not have as severe of a mass cricket outbreak this year.

Though the crickets may still be present, officials stated that it "will likely not be in the numbers we saw last year."

According to officials, the mass cricket invasions are usually localized events. Severe weather-related factors could trigger the population growth and mass emergence, according to the TPWD.

Molly Keck, integrated pest management program specialist for Texas A&M Agrilife, told KSAT that when temperatures drop and rain comes, that could spawn population growth of the critters.

Keck said, "Dry summers allow eggs and nymphs to survive because there is less fungal diseases. Then when that is broken by rains and cooler weather, their populations explode."

Officials say that for now, San Antonio residents can relax as the chances of having another cricket craze is low.

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