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Mormon Cricket
Mormon Crickets are actually a member of the katydid family, as their wings are ornamental and not very practical for flying. They can be found throughout the western United States in sagebrush flats and get their name from Mormon Folklore. For an interesting little story, look up the "miracle of the gulls" to read more about these little critters. Captured in Yellowstone's Hayden Valley.
The Mormon cricket is a large insect that can grow to almost 8 cm in length. It lives throughout western North America in rangelands dominated by sagebrush and forbs.
Despite its name, the Mormon cricket is actually a shieldbacked katydid, not a cricket. It takes its name from Mormon settlers in Utah, who encountered them while pushing westward, and for the prominent role they play in the miracle of the gulls.
Although flightless, the Mormon cricket is capable of traveling.. more
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