“It’s a result of just near optimal conditions for the survivability of the insects throughout its life cycle,” Dr. Jeff Back, a lab instrument specialist at the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic System Research, said. “And so lots of eggs hatch, lots of immature survive to adulthood, and, voila, you have cricket apocalypse.”

“They swarm down the alley right past the dining hall, and if you ever pass by there, you will see at least one person screaming and running away,” Peschel said.