Grasshoppers can be green or brown, and range from under 2 inches to over 4 inches in length. All are distinguished by their large, chewing jaws and are tremendous jumpers. While they gained notoriety as the plague of dust bowl farmers, nowadays grasshoppers are not a major pest for most gardeners. They actually prefer grasses, clovers and some weeds to prized flowers and garden vegetables. However, if drought renders their favored foods scarce and there are sufficient numbers present, grasshoppers may strip the leaves and stems of your crops.
Fortunately, grasshopper populations are usually kept in check by a number of predators and parasites, which includes frogs, toads, birds, cats, skunks, coyotes, and even yellow jackets and hornets. If there are not enough of these natural controls in your environment, you can also use commercially available parasitic protozoa marketed as "NOLO Bait" or "Grasshopper Attack" or insecticidal soap to reduce their numbers. Bifenthrin is also effective.
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| Grasshopper larva (Orthoptera) on sweet potato (Ipomoea) |
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| Grasshopper (Orthoptera) damage on iris (Iris) |
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| Grasshopper (Orthoptera) damage on iris (Iris) |
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| A praying mantis (Dictyoptera) whose dinner has gotten away. The grasshopper (Orthoptera) on a copperleaf (Acalypha) has already lost his right hindleg. |
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| The praying mantis (Dictyoptera) has had the drumstick and is looking for the rest of the grasshopper Orthoptera, whose right hindleg is missing |
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| Adult grasshopper (Orthoptera) on iris (Iris) |
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| Grasshopper (Orthoptera) feeding damage on iris (Iris) |
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| Grasshopper (Orthoptera) feeding damage on iris (Iris) |
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| Grasshopper (Orthoptera) on copperleaf (Acalypha) |
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| Grasshopper nymph (Orthoptera); note, wingbuds |
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| An adult grasshopper (Orthoptera) |
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| Grasshopper (Orthoptera) on ornamental grass |
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| Grasshopper (Orthoptera) on spider flower (Cleome) |
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