Was the Grasshopper Plague in the Little House books real?

Yes, the grasshopper plague described in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s On the Banks of Plum Creek was indeed a real event, and it was just as devastating as Laura depicted. In the book, Laura recounts how a glittering cloud of grasshoppers descended upon the Ingalls family’s farm just a week before their wheat was to be harvested, destroying everything in its path. This event was a significant hardship for the Ingalls family, leading Charles Ingalls (Pa) to seek work elsewhere and ultimately contributing to the family’s decision to leave Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

The grasshopper plague was not just a fictional plot device but a historical reality. It refers to a series of grasshopper infestations that plagued the American Midwest during the late 19th century, precisely when Laura and her family were living on the Minnesota frontier. These infestations were caused by the Rocky Mountain locust (Melanoplus spretus), a species of grasshopper that once swarmed in enormous numbers across the Great Plains and into Canada.

These swarms were massive and incredibly destructive. They would descend on fields and farms in such large numbers that they could strip the land of all vegetation in a matter of hours. The grasshoppers devoured crops, gardens, and even the bark off trees, leaving behind nothing but devastation. The event Laura described in her book is based on one of these real-life swarms that hit the Midwest.

The impact of the grasshopper plagues on pioneer families like the Ingalls was severe. The loss of crops meant the loss of a year’s income and food supply, leading to widespread famine and economic hardship. Food prices soared as crops were destroyed, making it even more difficult for already struggling settlers to survive. The plagues not only caused immediate food shortages but also had long-term economic consequences, as many families were forced to abandon their farms and seek opportunities elsewhere, just as the Ingalls eventually did.

One of the most infamous swarms, known as “Albert’s swarm,” occurred in 1875 and was reported to cover an area of nearly 200,000 square miles with an estimated 12.5 trillion grasshoppers. This swarm is considered one of the largest insect swarms in recorded history.

Interestingly, despite their overwhelming presence in the late 1800s, the Rocky Mountain locust became extinct within a few decades. The last confirmed sighting of this species was in 1902, and by 2014, it was officially declared extinct. The reasons for their rapid decline and extinction are still studied by scientists today, but it remains one of the most dramatic examples of how quickly a once-dominant species can disappear.

In summary, the grasshopper plague in On the Banks of Plum Creek was a real and significant event that deeply affected the lives of many pioneer families, including the Ingalls. The descriptions in the book accurately reflect the harsh realities of life on the frontier during a time when natural disasters like these could make or break a family’s chances of survival.