The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is good advice when dealing with various gardening issues. This time of year, large grasshoppers are appearing around yards and gardens. Many gardeners saw small grasshoppers several weeks back, and if not treated, they now have large grasshoppers chewing on plants and flowers. Consider these tips for control.
 
• It is likely there will be a certain number of grasshoppers in our gardens each year, no matter what treatments are used. Just because grasshoppers are there, they may not need to be controlled, especially if the damage is minor. It is best not to use pesticides unless they are absolutely necessary. Since grasshoppers are highly mobile, successful management is at its best when grasshoppers are treated over a broad area. In residential areas, this means that several neighbors may need to team up if the problem is serious. When managed on an individual basis, success is still possible, but is harder because grasshoppers often fly or hop from surrounding areas.
 
• There are several control methods for grasshoppers. Since most lay eggs in the soil in early fall, cultivating garden soil in late fall or early spring may reduce numbers. Additionally, grasshoppers are easier to kill when they are less than half grown. Baits and sprays available through local retailers can be very successful when grasshoppers are young. A popular type contains the grasshopper disease-causing organism, Nozema locustae. When properly applied and with the correct weather conditions, 50 to 70 percent of grasshoppers can be killed, and many of those remaining are infected and their feeding will be reduced. They will also lay fewer eggs at the end of the season. Local retailers may carry bait containing carbaryl that is also very effective. Additionally, while the grasshoppers are still small and young, many garden crops are not ready to harvest. If crops are sprayed with an insecticide, there is usually sufficient time so that crops can be fully harvested later on. Common sprays often labeled for grasshoppers include permethrin and carbaryl.
 
• For those who missed early treatment, reducing grasshopper numbers later in the season can be more difficult. The above-mentioned sprays will still be effective, but baits may not be as effective. Additionally, if you are actively harvesting crops, you will not want to spray since most sprays have a minimum five-to-seven-day wait before crops can be harvested and eaten. At this point, gardeners may have to accept the damage and do their best to reduce numbers early in the season next year.
 
For more information about controlling grasshoppers, see the USU Extension fact sheet, Grasshoppers, at http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/grasshoppers08.pdf.