Field Identification
Chewing orthopterans that clip leaves, silk, and fruit on field crops, forages, and gardens—outbreaks follow warm, dry springs that favor egg survival. Migratory species can appear suddenly along field margins.
Enlarged hind femurs for jumping; short antennae on most pest species; nymphs resemble adults without wings. Economic damage is often edge-concentrated until swarms form.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Semispore bait (Nosema locustae) or Beauveria bassiana bran baits for young hoppers; azadirachtin or pyrethrum for knockdown on high-value rows—read labels for bee restrictions.
Blister beetle larvae (Meloidae) eat egg pods; robber flies, ground beetles, spiders, and vertebrates thin populations if unsprayed refuges exist.
Mow fallow strips to reduce attractive rank grass; till margins to destroy undisturbed egg beds; trap crops of lush cereals at field edges can pull hoppers off vegetables.
Row cover on seedlings; bug vacuums on narrow beds—mostly morale boosting except at small scale.
Scout ditches and roadsides in late spring; flag increasing nymph bands before adults can fly.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Robber Flies
- Ground Beetles
- Spiders
Threat Map