by F.B. Peairs * (10/14)
Quick Facts…
- Grasshoppers often appear first in weedy areas of roadsides, fence rows, irrigation ditches and other noncrop areas.
- After these food plants are gone, the insects leave in search of other food, often an irrigated crop or newly emerged winter wheat.
- Control grasshoppers in the weedy areas with low rates of insecticides. Once they reach field margins, they may be larger and require higher rates of insecticides for control.
- Two options are available to farmers once it has been determined that crops are threatened: poison baits and foliar or soil insecticides.
Grasshoppers are one of the most important insect pests in Colorado. They follow a roughly 22-year cycle in Colorado. The last major outbreak was in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some problems occur even in years of low numbers. Although they are most important on rangeland, they also attack field crops, often with economic losses to the farmer. An exception is sorghum, which usually is not fed upon once it has reached about 10 inches in height.
Grasshoppers lay eggs in undisturbed areas, usually in late summer and early fall. Small nymphs or “hoppers” hatch the following spring. Winged adults appear five to six weeks after hatch. Eggs of a few Colorado species hatch in late summer and pass the winter as nymphs. Winged adults of these species usually appear early in the following summer, often causing undue alarm about unusually early grasshopper activity. Some of these early-season species are important on rangeland, but none are considered a threat to field crops. Most field crop damage is caused by the differential, redlegged, two-striped and migratory grasshoppers, all species that follow the typical grasshopper life cycle.
Control of Grasshoppers
The usual pattern of grasshopper damage in field crops is for early development to occur in weedy areas of roadsides, fence rows, irrigation ditches and other noncrop areas. As these food plants are eaten or dry down, the grasshoppers leave in search of other food, often an irrigated crop or newly-emerged winter wheat. Here they first feed in the field margins and then, conditions permitting, spread throughout the field.
Grasshoppers become more difficult and expensive to control as this pattern develops. Grasshoppers in the weedy areas are concentrated in a small area. They can therefore be controlled with low rates of insecticides applied to a relatively few acres. Once they reach the field margins, they may be larger and require higher insecticide rates for good control, although the acreages involved will still be small. After they spread throughout a field, high insecticide rates applied to larger acreages are required to protect the crop.
Table 1 gives information useful in deciding if a grasshopper population is enough of a threat to a crop to justify spending money on an insecticide treatment. Modify these general guidelines according to grasshopper species, crop conditions, and crop value. For example, use lower counts for a valuable crop such as pinto beans and higher counts for a lower value crop such as proso millet. Walk through the field and count the grasshoppers that jump or move within a square foot area. Take at least 18 counts per field and then divide the total by two to get grasshoppers per square yard. Consider treatments when the average count reaches the threatening level.
Two options are available to farmers once it has been decided that crops are threatened: poison baits and foliar or soil insecticides.
Poison Baits
The main advantage to poison baits is that they can be applied to crops or weedy areas in which the plants are too small for good insecticide spray coverage, such as newly-cut alfalfa or weeds that have dried or been eaten down. Under other conditions, insecticide sprays are cheaper and more effective.
Carbaryl insecticide-impregnated bran bait is available as a 2 or 5 percent formulation. The keys to success are uniform distribution of bait and reapplication if the bait is no longer attractive to grasshoppers. Attractiveness of the bait is reduced substantially by moisture (rain or heavy dew).
Nosema locustae, a disease organism that attacks many grasshopper species, is also available in bait form. This disease can reduce grasshopper populations over a period of several years, but Nosema baits will not protect a crop during the same growing season in which it is applied. Nosema baits may be effective when applied early in the season against small nymphs, but there are no data showing their effectiveness in protecting field crops.
Foliar insecticides
Foliar insecticides are the treatment of choice in most situations. The High Plains Integrated Pest Management Guide lists the insecticides currently approved for control of grasshoppers on Colorado field crops and noncrop areas that serve as infestation sources. These registrations are subject to change, so check the current label. Be sure to follow all label instructions and precautions.
| Table 1: Treatment guidelines based on number of grasshoppers (nymphs and adults) per square yard for crops other than winter wheat. | |||
| Grasshopper Population | Field | Field Margin |
Treatment necessary? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-economic | 0-2 | 5-10 | No |
| Light | 3-7 | 11-20 | Questionable, depends on size, species, type of crop |
| Moderate | 8-14 | 20-40 | Probably |
| Abundant | 15+ | 41+ | Yes |
Winter Wheat
Grasshoppers pose a significant threat to emerging winter wheat because the plants are small and the grasshoppers are adults. Light to moderate infestations, as defined in Table 3, can cause stand reductions in field margins. Treatments can be limited to field borders. Spring infestations have the potential to clip heads, as summarized in Table 2.
Options for controlling low to moderate infestations include foliar insecticides applied just prior to crop emergence or seed treatments. See the High Plains Integrated Pest Management Guide for details. Be sure to read, understand and follow all label instructions. If grasshopper infestations are high, consider doubling the seeding rate for the outer one or two passes.
| Table 2: Spring treatment guidelines for immature and adult grasshoppers in winter wheat (modified from University of Minnesota information). | ||||||
|
Nymphs/Adults/yd2
|
Adults/yd2
|
|||||
| Ratinga | Adjacent | Crop | Treat? | Adjacent | Crop | Treat |
| Light |
25-35
|
15-25
|
No |
10-20
|
3-7
|
Yes, if there is potential for head clipping. |
| Threatening |
50-75
|
30-45
|
Depends on prices, crop condition |
21-40
|
8-14
|
Yes, if there is potential for head clipping. |
| Severe |
100+
|
60+
|
Yes, monitor for retreatment |
41+
|
15+
|
Yes, consider wider border treatments and monitor for treatment. |
a This is a general rating used in all crops.
| Table 3: Fall treatment guidelines for adult grasshoppers in winter wheat (modified from University of Minnesota information). | |||
|
Adults/yd2
|
|||
| Ratinga | Adjacent | Crop | Treat |
| Light |
10-20
|
3-7
|
Yes |
| Threatening |
21-40
|
8-14
|
Yes, consider wider border treatments. |
| Severe |
41+
|
15+
|
Yes, use wider border treatments and monitor for retreatment. |
a This is a general rating used in all crops.
The following websites provide a large amount of information on the biology, identification and management of grasshoppers in the West.
*Colorado State University Extension entomologist and professor, bioagricultural sciences and pest management. 6/98. Revised 10/14.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Colorado counties cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
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