Salt Lake City (USA) - In the Bible, locusts are regarded as the 8th plague of God. Now the US state of Utah is suffering exactly this biblical fate, as fields and gardens have been destroyed by millions of Mormon crickets in recent days.

According to a report in the British Daily Mail, the insect invasion in the west of the USA is in full swing. The crickets are simply everywhere, whether on the street, in the garden, in the field or on the walls of houses, nowhere is safe from them.

Crickets actually feed exclusively on plants, but if there is nothing else, they will attack and eat each other. This phenomenon has often been observed in large swarms.

There are now so many animals in the immediate vicinity that residents are talking about "apocalyptic proportions", which could even cost some people their lives. In fact, roadkill insects are turning the state's roads into a dangerous slide, which has already led to some serious car accidents.

In some cities, snow plows are therefore being used to scrape the crickets off the roads.

Farmers and farmers have also sounded the alarm and reported initial crop losses. Private gardens have also been eaten bare.

As is often the case, the reason for the sudden onslaught of insects is the climate . Mild and dry winters have allowed many insect eggs and larvae to survive, which is now leading to a certain overpopulation.

However, the authorities warn that the current wave of insects is just a small foretaste of what is to come. There could be a second, much worse cricket invasion this summer.

The last major pest infestation occurred in 2003, when crickets not only devoured fields but also entire house facades. In the end, part of the harvest could only be saved by the so-called "seagull miracle ".

Flocks of seagulls flew over the fields and ate the insects.