Grasshoppers coming

COLLEGE STATION – Grasshopper populations are beginning to increase with the warmer temperatures and drier air in most of Texas, said Dr. Cliff Hoelscher, entomologist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

“Grasshoppers usually appear in late-April to May,” Hoelscher said. “They appear in cycles, and we are just in the middle of the six- to seven-year cycle of grasshopper infestations.”

“With the record-setting temperatures last year, we had the highest populations of grasshoppers that I have seen in the last 30 years,” Hoelscher said.

He said grasshoppers first appear in rangelands and roadsides because the overwintering eggs are not disturbed in those areas. Populations are much fewer in farmland and cultivated areas because the soil is disturbed.

“I think there should be fewer grasshoppers in 2001 because of the wet spring we had,” Hoelscher said. “Some of the earlier appearing species were killed by the wet spring weather. But in April it turned off dry, and we’ve seen a resurgence of grasshoppers since the 15th of April.”

During the time before they hatch, grasshoppers are in the egg stage in the ground and overwinter in an egg pod, he said.

“Grasshoppers affect pastures and rangelands as well as grain crops such as sorghum, corn, soybeans, and cotton.”

Hoelscher said the only real way to control the grasshopper population is by using insecticides. The two principal materials are Sevin, a trade name for an insecticide application, and Ultra Low Volume (ULV) Malathion. Also, Tempo’s a product for homeowners with yards and ornamental plants.

Even though grasshoppers are pests, they provide a good food for bird populations. So birds help get rid of them. If that doesn’t work, grasshoppers make good fish bait!