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Grasshoppers Control Before They Eat Your Entire Garden

There are more than 400 different species of grasshopper in the Western United States alone. However a few of them are capable of causing damage. Many gardeners detest grasshoppers and they will stress the importance of grasshopper control.

What Are Grasshoppers?

Grasshoppers can be nasty garden pests and can cause lot of damage if left for long periods. They usually feed on the leaves of plants but they occasionally feed on stems, fruits, ripening seeds and blossoms.

Some grasshopper facts include:
  • They can shed their skin four or five times
  • There are 18,000 different types of grasshopper in the world
  • All Grasshoppers are Herbivores
  • They have five eyes
  • They do not have ears
  • They can leap 20 times the length of their own bodies
  • When picked up they spit out a liquid which is commonly called tobacco juice
  • They can survive almost anywhere
As mentioned, grasshoppers are Herbivores. So exactly what do grasshoppers eat?Grasshoppers aren't fussy with what they eat. They eat grass, vegetable plants and flowers. It is common for swarms of grasshoppers to eat farmer's crops which cause extreme damage for the farmer.

Amazingly some people in the United States actually eat grasshoppers which are supposed to be high in protein and low in fat. They dip them in chocolate.

The Difference between Grasshoppers and Locusts

Grasshoppers and Locusts look identical but they both behave a lot differently. The main difference between the two is that when there are a huge number of locusts, they join together and form swarms which go and infest an area. Grasshoppers do not usually swarm together or infest areas in large numbers.

Locusts also make a buzzing sound when they fly and their wings show flashes of color when in flight. Overall there aren't many differences between the two and the behavior of them is what distinguishes one from the other.

Different Types of Grasshoppers

Some common types of grasshopper include:
  • Red-legged Grasshopper
  • Two striped grasshopper
  • Club Horned Grasshopper
  • Clear Winged Grasshopper
  • The Carolina Grasshopper
Red-legged Grasshopper
The red legged grasshopper is most commonly found on soybeans. While they do have the potential to become a nuisance, things such as birds, moist weather, egg parasites and rodents usually keep their numbers down. It is the most common grasshopper throughout the United States and if it does become a pest it can cause lots of damage. It gets its name from its appearance of striking red hind legs.
Two Striped Grasshopper
The Two Striped Grasshopper is well recognized by its stripes on its back. They live in dry areas and drink water when it is available. They can and do become pests in both fields and garden. Their diet is not restricted and they eat different plants. They generally hatch 3-10 days ahead of other pest species grasshoppers and they can exceed up to 200 per square feet.

This species is susceptible to infection from a grasshopper-killing fungus. They usually catch this during moist, warm weather and they tend to climb up high to die.
Club Horned Grasshoppers
This grasshopper is fairly small and it appears between late spring and early summer. This grasshopper never requires control and is not considered to be of pest status. It can be recognized by the hourglass shape on wings, especially the females and they can be heard making scratchy sounds.
Clear Winged Grasshopper
The Clear Winged Grasshopper is like the Two Striped Grasshopper and can become an annoying pest. They can strip crops bare and they can occur in large numbers. Unlike the Two Striped Grasshopper, this species has a more restricted diet and they only usually eat cereal crops and grasses. Adults have blotches on their forewings and they can fly quite far.
The Carolina Grasshopper
This is a large species of grasshopper and it flies similar to a butterfly. Whilst it isn't usually a pest like other species, it does have the potential to breed in certain areas and produce large numbers which can then become a problem. They live in light soil and are mainly brown in color.

The Life Cycle of Grasshoppers and How to Control Them

Grasshoppers go through three different stages of growth. These stages are:
  • An Egg
  • A Nymph
  • An Adult
Starting life in an egg the baby grasshoppers usually hatch in late spring though different species will vary. They then grow into Nymphs which are tiny adults that do not have wings. The final stage is adulthood and the grasshoppers now have wings to fly.

In order to control grasshoppers you need to first see how big your problem is. If there are only a couple of grasshoppers, it is more than likely that you can leave them alone as they do not pose as a threat. However they can create havoc and so there are a number of grasshopper control strategies that you could use.

These strategies include:
  • Planting seeds early
  • Using Insecticides
  • Baits
  • Keeping Poultry
Most people tend to use insecticides to get rid of grasshoppers and other garden pests. However you have to make sure you read the label carefully before applying the insecticide over the infected area. Insecticides can cause a lot of damage and great care needs to be taken when using them. However they are highly effective though several treatments may need to be used.

By planting seeds earlier than usual, crops and plants get the chance to grow more before grasshoppers make an appearance. Whilst this doesn't stop damage altogether, older plants are better protected against grasshopper attacks than younger plants.

Baits are also effective and can be easily bought but they can be slightly expensive. They are best placed around when the grasshoppers are still young. They usually contain bran and some form of insecticide.

If you have a problem in your garden you may want to think of getting some form of poultry. Chickens for example will eat roaming grasshoppers and it will deter them from the area.

Grasshoppers are real pests and they come in large numbers. They can be tricky but there are plenty of products to help you eliminate the problem.

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