Cedar City, Utah

The attack of the grasshoppers  

With the recent swarms of grasshoppers, it can feel like you are living in biblical times in St. George. Grasshoppers are insatiable eaters, consuming about one half of their body weight – daily. In one study, researchers found that 6-7 grasshoppers per square yard on 10 acres of pasture can eat as much as a cow. With the swarms of grasshoppers coming into St. George and other places in Southern Utah, it is important to know how to protect your yard against these pests.

How can I tell the difference between a grasshopper and a cricket?

Adult grasshoppers are brown, reddish yellow, or green with prominent jaws, wings, and short antennae. They have large hind legs and can jump far distances. During immature nymph stages, they look similar to adults, but are smaller and have wing buds. Both adults and nymphs cause damage by chewing on the leaves and stems of plants, and if infestations are severe (like they currently are in places like St. George), grasshoppers can devastate entire fields. It is estimated that grasshoppers consume up to 25% of the available forage in the western US annually. The biggest visible difference between grasshoppers and crickets is that crickets have a short antennae and grasshoppers have long antennae.

How can I keep grasshoppers away from my yard?

Some yards in St. George can have hundreds of grasshoppers. To protect your plants, crops, and yard, it is important to have some tricks ready to defend against the grasshoppers.

• Roto-till or cultivate crops in the early spring to destroy overwintering eggs.
  • Grasshoppers lay eggs during late summer and hatch in the spring. By destroying old crops during the spring, you will also destroy grasshopper eggs.
• Cover small garden areas
  • By covering your garden with garden fabrics such as a harvest grow cover or a harvest house, you can protect your plants from getting eaten.
• Mow a clean strip between grassy fields and your garden areas.
  • This helps slow grasshopper migration. Grasshoppers are reluctant to enter the strip because there is no food and they are exposed to predators. The wider the strip, the better.
• Invest in a bird feeder
  • Some birds are grasshopper predators. If birds are often near your home feeding, they will also likely hunt the grasshoppers.

We can help you!

Grasshoppers can be detrimental to your yard – use these tips to help protect your yard and plants. If you are still having issues with grasshoppers, give us a call. We will quickly send an Pest Control Specialist over to your home and help you get rid of pests. We service Northern and Southern Utah, including Saint George, Cedar City, Washington, Dammeron Valley, Diamond Valley, Parowan, Hurricane, La Verkin, Toquerville, Enoch, Santa Clara, Ivins, and Salt Lake City.