In the Intermountain West, outbreaks of Mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex) are more than a nuisance—they are a reminder of the unruly rhythms of nature. Their sudden appearances can stall traffic, damage crops, and stir old stories, impacting not just the economy but the rhythms and relationships of life in the Great Basin. This research combines satellite imagery, drones, and ground-level tools to trace where these insects go, what draws them, and how their movements intersect with fences, roads, and people. Drawing on the insights of boots on the ground—the project blends ecological research with lived experience. Mormon cricket outbreaks offer a unique opportunity to learn about place, long-standing ways of life, and landscape-scale unpredictability as they all converge. By listening carefully and looking widely, this work aims to inform future management grounded in both collective behavior science and the values of the people who call Mormon cricket crossings areas home.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
Li Murphy – WCC Cordinator | Li is a Master of Environmental Science candidate funded by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, focusing on the social and ecological dynamics of insect-human interactions. She is currently working on a project about Mormon crickets in the Intermountain West. Originally from Idaho, she has a particular fondness for the state insect, the Monarch butterfly. Prior to Yale, Li was dedicated to community science, managing field camps in the Great Basin, driving a roving mobile STEM outreach laboratory, and then briefly piloting a planetarium. She believes in providing more inroads and support to folks, especially those with marginalized identities, to participate in framing and practicing scientific research, especially research that drives allocation of resources and environmental decision-making. She holds a BA degree in biology and geology from Harvard University. Li volunteers for the American Geophysical Union Local Science Partners and serves on the board for the nonprofit Nonhuman Teachers. She can often be found jogging, trying to keep her succulents alive, or surfing badly. See what Li has been up to.