‘Cricket Apocalypse’ Spares Baylor Campus
Last fall, Baylor University experienced a significant influx of crickets that seemed to invade every corner of the campus. Students returning to school recalled walking past the countless cricket carcasses lining the path between Penland and the tennis courts.
Expert Insights on Cricket Population Surge
Dr. Jeff Back, a lab instrument specialist at the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic System Research, explained the phenomenon as the result of nearly ideal conditions for the insects’ survival throughout their life cycle.
“It’s a result of just near optimal conditions for the survivability of the insects throughout its life cycle,” Dr. Back said. “And so lots of eggs hatch, lots of immature survive to adulthood, and, voila, you have cricket apocalypse.”
Back noted that the Baylor Sciences Building (BSB), where his office is located, was particularly affected during the cricket season.
“Usually, you see aggregations of them around in entryways to buildings and stuff that has lights,” he said. “That’s how you know it’s cricket season. And then they’re all getting into the BSB … you see them on the floor.”
Weather’s Role in Cricket Population Trends
The cricket numbers fluctuate seasonally, largely influenced by weather patterns. Dr. Back emphasized that certain conditions lead to significant population booms.
“Typically, what drives huge population explosions of these crickets is drought through the summertime and then a very wet fall,” Back explained. “We haven’t had rain until recently, like the last few weeks.”
Summary
Baylor's recent cricket surge was due to perfect weather conditions that boosted survival rates, especially after a dry summer followed by rain in the fall.