Grasshoppers

Pest Description

• adults: ~ 1/8 – 1 1/2 inches; brown to green
• nymphs: look like adults without fully developed wings
• well-developed rear legs for jumping
• there are many species of grasshoppers in Utah

Host Plants, Diet & Damage

• feed on many different ornamental plants, grasses, vegetables, forage and crops
• cause chewing damage on leaves: skeletonizing, small to large holes and marginal feeding
• chew primarily on leaves, stems and seedpods

Biology, Life Cycle & Damaging Life Stage

• overwinter as eggs (in egg pods) in the soil
• eggs hatch in spring or early summer
• development takes about 1 1/2 – 2 months
• one (most) or more generations per year
• nymphs and adults are the damaging stages

IPM Recommendations

• Damage from small populations can be tolerated.
• Exclude grasshoppers from plants using fine mesh material (row covers).
• Pesticide-based management should occur on a larger scale (e.g., a neighborhood) rather than on an individual property.
• Use insecticide baits containing Nosema locustae or wheat bran + carbaryl.
• Apply an insecticide (carbamate; pyrethroid) to protect specific plants.

For more information, see our Grasshoppers fact sheet or our Community-Wide Grasshopper Control fact sheet.