Knowledgebase
Grass hopper control acrerage #872605
Asked June 11, 2024, 12:16 PM EDT
The grass hoppers were really bad on my half acre. I have a 30 by 50 garden. 6 fruit trees and a lot of alfalfa to feed my 10 chickens. The hatch is out and they are very small. I have potatoes and the usual vegitables. I called bath and they said the nolobait company burned down and a product called semaspore is out of stock. I envision bait traps. Should i keep the chickens penned up? There is a spring wheat field to the south. They had a crop duster spray about a mo ago. What are the farmers doing? please help.
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Research-based information from Colorado State University begins with the understatement, “Grasshoppers can be the most noticeable and damaging insects to yards and fields. They also are among those most difficult to control, since they are highly mobile.”
This bulletin gives information on grasshopper baits, sprays and insecticides you may consider. Please remember “The Label is the Law” should you choose to use insecticides. Follow label instructions!
Perhaps you might ask your farmer neighbors what they are doing to treat their fields.
About your chickens? Dennis, Master Gardeners cannot speak to your question about penning up your chickens. Animals are not within our area of expertise.
If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Extension again.
Sue, Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
I really need and want to divorce myself from becoming an ag expert. I just want these grasshoppers dead. What brand of bait is made that will control theses things and where do I buy it?
The Colorado State University's Plant Talk bulleting #5.536
(https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/grasshopper-control-in-gardens-small-acreages-5-536/) to which I referred to you earlier gives pesticide names and dosages for you to help deal with your pesky grasshoppers.
Here is information I copied for you, directly from that bulletin.
Note that the bulletin says NOSEMA is effective only when dealing with young grasshoppers; that window of time has probably passed.
"Alternately, baits containing carbaryl (Sevin) can be broadcast. Bait formulations are made by mixing the insecticide with bran or some other carrier and kill grasshoppers that feed on the bait. These treatments limit application effects on other insects present in the treated area. However, availability of Sevin baits is frequently limited, or prohibitively priced for use on large areas. Baits must be reapplied after rain.
"Insecticide treatments do not need to completely cover the area since grasshoppers are mobile. Insecticides applied as bands covering 50 percent of the area, or even less, have proved very effective for control of grasshoppers in rangelands. Backpack sprayers and application equipment modified for use on ATVs can be used in larger acreages. A review of this method, known as Reduced Area Acreage Treatments (RAATS) has been prepared by the University of Wyoming at: www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/grasshopper/atvraats.htm
"Where grasshoppers develop over large areas and impact several properties, coordinated area-wide control is very useful. As this requires some additional preparations in planning, early surveys are even more important. Grasshopper control often is much more successful as a community effort.
"Once grasshoppers have reached the adult stage and migrations occur, some insecticides may be applied directly to plants. Such applications have only short effectiveness and damage can occur before individual grasshoppers are killed. Furthermore, the choice of insecticides is more limited since few allow direct application to garden fruit and vegetables.
| Table 2: Insecticides used to control grasshoppers. | ||
| Common Name | Trade Name(s) | Labeled Uses, Comments |
|---|---|---|
| carbaryl | Sevin | Most formulations allow use on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables (1-14 day preharvest interval). Available for use as sprays, dust and in baits. |
| acephate | Orthene | Has systemic activity in plants and may persist longer than most other insecticides. Uses are limited to non-edible crops. |
| permethrin | Many trade names. | Widely available for garden use and most formulations allow use on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Fairly short persistence of effect for grasshopper control. |
| diflubenzuron | Dimilin | Growth regulator that affects chitin formation as grasshopper nymphs molt. Effective only on immature insects but has long residual activity. Restricted Use insecticide. Most use will be by licensed pesticide applicators on pastures. |
| Nosema locustae | NOLO Bait, Semaspore | A biological control that produces infection from a protozoan. It is relatively slow acting and only effective against young grasshoppers. Use allowed in Certified Organic crop production. |
If you have questions or concerns about your home garden, please contact CSU Extension again.
Sue
Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
