For farmers and homeowners in the High Plains battling an infestation of grasshoppers, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommends control measures to begin while grasshoppers are still young.
“Looks like it could be a bad year for grasshoppers,” said Dr. Ed Bynum, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist in Amarillo. “If you have been out any at all, you already know that they are everywhere.”
Treating now can mean fewer acres need treatment, requiring less insecticide, and excessive crop damage might be prevented, Bynum said. The nymphal stage grasshoppers also are not able to fly and are more susceptible to insecticides than larger nymphs and adults, according to AgriLife Today.
To control the grasshoppers, Bynum said insecticide sprays and baits are the primary options. Baits are effective, but limited to those grasshoppers it attracts. Insecticide sprays can be used for larger acreage and are more economical.
Bynum warned all chemicals have restrictions, so it is important to read the labels before use.