Push on the marching crickets

Abstract

Stephen J. Simpson and colleagues have a gory story to tell (Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA doi:10.1073/pnas.0508915103; 2006). They investigated the factors that contribute to the mass movements of flightless Mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex), which inhabit western North America. Under certain conditions, these insects form into marching bands millions strong and several kilometres in length, and can walk up to 2 kilometres a day.