Purdue University
Cooperative Extension Service
Department of Entomology
Mimeo E-19
April, 1964
Grasshopper Control
Grasshoppers are general feeders. They attack both natural vegetation and cultivated crops. Populations vary from year to year, but generally, grasshoppers cause the most damage in years of high population coupled with dry weather. Drought conditions reduce natural vegetation, forcing the insects to move into cultivated crops.
LIFE CYCLE
Grasshoppers lay eggs in the soil during the fall. Preferred egg laying sites are roadsides, ditch banks, fence rows, clover fields and alfalfa fields. The eggs hatch in June, and the tiny grasshoppers may feed for 2 or 3 weeks without being noticed. Then they start to move and may attack nearby crops. There is one generation each year.
CONTROL MEASURES
Grasshoppers are best controlled while they are small and still confined in fence rows and other hatching sites. Spraying just these uncropped areas eliminates the problem of chemical residues on crops to be harvested or pastured. Also, border spraying around fields to be protected is often effective in stopping migrations. For these and similar areas that will not be grazed (or used as hay for dairy animals or fattening cattle), aldrin, dieldrin, toxaphene or heptachlor are preferred control materials.
Control in Field Crops
Grasshoppers are not difficult to control in field crops with any one of the insecticides listed in Table 1. The pasture, harvest and feeding restrictions and other information in the table will help you select a chemical that meets your particular needs.
Mix the amount of material required with enough water to insure even distribution. Most of the insecticides cleared for use on clover and alfalfa have shorter residual action; therefore, repeat applications may be necessary. PHOSDRIN IS HIGHLY TOXIC TO HUMANS AND SHOULD NOT BE USED WITHOUT A RESPIRATOR AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.
Control in Home Gardens
Any material listed in Table 1 for farm crop spraying can be used to protect flowers and other non-edible plants. Garden supply stores usually carry these insecticides in small packages for home use. When spraying vegetables, check the label to determine on which crop the insecticide may be used. Spraying garden borders and fence rows will often give effective control.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U. S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. H. G. Diesslin, Director, Lafayette, Ind. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.