Is It Another Las Vegas Grasshopper Invasion

Another Grasshopper Invasion in Las Vegas? It must mean summer is here.

I've lived in Las Vegas for over 30 years, and over the past decades, we've had an influx of people moving to Las Vegas. Over the past few years, we've also had an influx of grasshoppers moving to Las Vegas, or at least summering in Las Vegas.

Perhaps they like that dry heat, too. Because according to 8 News Now, many people say they are seeing swarms of grasshoppers around town.

It might be a bit startling. But from someone who does not like bugs, insects, and creepy-crawly things -- grasshoppers are harmless.

Make yourself a grasshopper: one part crème de cacao, one part Crème de menthe, one part fresh cream. Shake with ice, and pour in a martini glass -- and I'll tell you about grasshoppers.

Most Las Vegans remember the grasshopper invasion of 2019. It was as if the great plague was beginning again. Grasshoppers in Las Vegas, in HUGE numbers, were literally everywhere! The whole city, including the famous Las Vegas Strip, was covered in tiny flying objects.

The Pallid-Winged Grasshoppers are actually native to Nevada, According to Insectlopedia. So yes, settle down -- they didn't move here from California. They are from Nevada. And they like being in the city in the summer.

The grasshoppers, and you may notice, are attracted to light. Usually you see a lot more of them after a wet winter. That is what happened in 2019.

Why the grasshopper invasion now? Maybe they like the lights of Las Vegas. Or maybe they want to see the Sphere.

Nevada Department of Agriculture Entomologist Jeff Knight told 8 News Now in a past interview: “They don’t carry any diseases, they don’t bite." He said they are not even one of the species that's considered a problem.

The 2024 Las Vegas grasshopper invasion doesn't look to be severe, but there are a lot of them flying around the city.

Swarm season in Vegas is usually between June and October, so the season is actually just starting.

Grasshoppers are very attracted to ultraviolet light. So, if you use lights that have less UV power, you might avoid a lot of them at your home or business at night.

Again, remember: Even though they might be annoying, the are absolutely harmless. They eat mostly grass, and unfortunately, they are are a food source for some other animals and insects.

If you want to step on anything, Las Vegas, step on the scorpions. YUCK!! Then drink that grasshopper.

Summer vacation is upon us. So, where to? Maybe the Poop Museum!

There are some great places, national parks, monuments, and museums to visit and explore in the United States. Some great places in the state of Nevada, that you probably didn't even know about. And we'll get to those. But I have to share one of the places I just found out about.

If you drive about four hours from Las Vegas, you will find an amazing place. The Grand Canyon? Yes - but no. It's right near the beautiful Grand Canyon - but you can always see that.

Yeppers! I'm talking about the brand new - world's largest museum - for fossilized POOP!

It just opened in Williams, Arizona near the Grand Canyon. And they gave it the perfect name:  The Poozeum. Yes, I'm serious.

If you're looking for a fun road trip this summer, this cool(?) - uh, interesting(?) - new attraction just opened, in the small town of Williams, Arizona, on historic Route 66.

Most people who visit The Poozeum are actually on their way to the Grand Canyon. It's about 60 miles south of it.  But, dare I say - it smells like the Grand Canyon has some stiff competition now. (Oh shut up - that was clever, and you know it)

The poop museum just opened in downtown Williams, and it is the largest poop museum! It specifically highlights fossilized dinosaur poop. So there is definitely something to it.

The term for fossilized feces is coprolite. (COP-rolite, not CRA - well, you got it.)  They've got around 8,000 pieces in their collection, including the largest dinosaur poop ever found: a two-foot-long specimin that they think belonged to a T-rex.

Believe it or not, the museum is free.  So if you're passing through Williams, it won't cost you anything. But I think just getting a picture in front of it is reason enough to stop. Because of the name alone!

Definitely check out The Poozeum if you are heading to the Grand Canyon. Or just GO!

Here are some strange and interesting Nevada attractions you might enjoy.

The Clown Motel is just plain weird. And it is said to be haunted - which is not hard to believe. I have been to it, but refuse to stay, because it is like something out of the X-Files the Scully and Mulder would have even avoided, But it is quite the tourist attraction. At least check out the weird gift shop.    

It's a tree with a bunch of shoes hanging over branches. The story is that a couple got in their first fight as newlyweds, they had an argument right near the tree, and one left the other walking home, without shoes. They patched things up, but made an anniversary tradition out of going back each year to throw a shoe on the tree. It's interesting. In Dayton, Nevada, about 50 miles from Fallon Nevada, on The Loneliest Road In America.

The call it the Free Range Art Gallery. There are dozens of cars, vans, and trucks half-buried, or sticking straight up out of the ground, and even on top of each other. These are the canvas, and they are really colorful, and festive. It's a really cool sight to see, in the living ghost town of Goldfield. 

The Seven Magic Mountains were supposed to be a temporary exhibit, but they have been up since 2016. About 20 minutes outside of Las Vegas are seven fluorescent colored, 11 story rock towers. They have become a bit of  have become something of a cult classic, and they are a GREAT photo op. A really cool sight to see! 

There were over 900 atomic tests in Nevada. And people would take buses to see the testing. It was a huge draw for Las Vegas, and people came in from everywhere. People would bus out to the test site, put their goggles on, have a cocktail, and enjoy watching the mushroom clouds in the sky. It was quite the attraction on Las Vegas in the 50's. The Atomic Testing Museum, though, is quite amazing, and full of history. A huge, actual, nuclear reactor, a backpack nuke, and personal atomic weapons. Yikes! But the Oppenheimer era was fierce in Las Vegas.

The Little A'Le'Inn is just as kitschy as you would imagine! You can stay there, eat there, and shop. All a play on the Area 51 test site, that is not too far down the road. And all part of the heyday of the Las Vegas atomice times. Do NOT try to trek on over to Area 51, and think you'll get past anything. Lights go on, and guards swarm in from nowhere! Just keep close to the Inn.