HEARTWOOD CHAPTER

We have had a major swarm of grasshoppers in the garden this Spring (2010). They appear to favor the Turks Cap and Coral Bean leaves for food at this time. While farmers worry about their crops and income, our concern is that the grasshoppers will eat the caterpillar host plants.

Here's the advice from our AgriLife Extension Service agents.

Liquid Sevin would probably be the  safest product.  You will still get some
non target.  Spray late in the morning so to get the hoppers when they are
feeding. ---Mike Heimer

We recommend liquid or wettable Sevin or Sevin Baits for control of
grasshoppers. It works really well. --- Tom LeRoy

The Team Leaders for the garden projects decided they did not want to use chemicals. There is nothing that will kill the grasshoppers and not harm the beneficial insects.

Our volunteers have been removing as many as we can by hand -picking them off the plants. Some volunteers crush them under foot; some, give the pesky critters to fishermen to be used as bait.

Have a Grasshopper Picking Contest

Bring the kids or bring a friend and have a grasshopper picking contest. Whoever picks the most grasshoppers; picks where you eat lunch that day.

News article: Worst grasshopper outbreak in 30 years

Texas Prks & Wildlife Publication: Insects of Texas

Books you might like to add to your personal bookshelf:

• A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects (Gulf's Field Guide Series,)
• Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
• Insects of Texas: A Practical Guide (W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series)