Oklahoma-Farm-and-Ranch_543839

AUGUST 2026 | 33 WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM By late summer, grasshoppers feel like just one more thing to deal with. (Courtesy photo) B When Grasshoppers Take Over By Savannah Magoteaux By August, it does not take long to know when grasshop- pers have moved in. They scatter ahead of the mower, jump from garden rows, cling to fence posts and seem to rise out of the pasture with every step. One or two grasshop- pers might still feel like part of summer. A few more may not seem like much of a problem. But when the ground looks like it is moving, and every tomato plant, flower bed or patch of green grass seems to have bite marks, grasshoppers quickly move from background noise to real irritation. In Oklahoma, grasshoppers are nothing new. They are part of the late-summer landscape, especially in hot, dry years. While they may seem to appear all at once, their numbers usually build over time. Eggs are laid in the soil, often in undisturbed grassy or weedy areas, and young grasshoppers begin hatching in the spring. As the season progresses, they grow larger, become more mo- bile and are much easier to notice. By late summer, many grass- hoppers are no longer tiny insects tucked away in roadside grass. They are bigger, stronger and able to move longer distanc- es. That is when homeowners, gardeners and producers often begin seeing the real damage. Grasshoppers feed by chew- ing. That means the damage they leave behind is often easy to recognize. Leaves may look ragged, stripped or full of holes. In gardens, they may chew on vegetables, owers and young plants. In pastures and hay elds, heavy numbers can add pressure to forage that is al- ready dealing with heat, drought or grazing. Around barns, yards and eld edges, they may seem to be everywhere at once. Weather can play a major role in how bad grasshoppers become. Warm, dry conditions are often favorable for them. Drought can reduce some of the natural diseases that help keep grasshopper numbers in check, and when native grasses or weeds begin to dry down, grasshoppers may move toward any green growth they can nd. That may be a vegetable garden, irrigated lawn, ower bed, crop edge or low area of pasture that still has something tender left to eat. The frustrating part is that by the time most people are truly tired of grasshoppers, they are also harder to control. Grasshoppers are much easier to manage when they are small and concentrated in hatching areas. Once they are large enough to y or move freely across a property, control becomes more di cult and often less e ective. That does not mean there is nothing to do. It just means timing matters. For gardeners, barriers can help protect valuable plants, es- pecially when plants are young. Row covers or other lightweight covers may reduce feeding dam- age if they are placed before grasshoppers are already in the plants. Some people also use protective cages or netting around individual plants. While these methods are not always pretty, they can make a di er- ence in a home garden where the goal is to protect a few im- portant rows or plants. Managing weedy areas may also help, especially earlier in the season. Roadsides, ditch banks, fence rows and unmowed grassy spots can serve as places where young grasshoppers develop. Keeping those areas under con- trol may reduce some pressure, though it will not stop grass- hoppers from moving in from neighboring properties. That is one of the challenges with an insect that can travel. There are insecticides and baits labeled for grasshopper control, but they should be used carefully and according to the label. The right product depends on where it is being used, whether it is a garden, landscape, pasture or crop set- ting, and what else is in the area. It is also important to consider pollinators, livestock, pets, water sources and harvest restrictions. When in doubt, Extension guid- ance is one of the best places to start. It is also worth remember- ing that not every grasshopper problem requires the same response. A few grasshoppers in the yard are annoying. Heavy feeding in a garden may be worth addressing. Large num- bers in a pasture or crop setting may require a more serious look, especially if forage is already limited. Natural predators, including birds and some insects, do feed on grasshoppers, but they rarely eliminate a large outbreak on their own. Chickens may help around a yard or garden area, but they can also create their own kind of damage if turned loose in the wrong place. Like most things on the farm or around the house, there is usu- ally a trade-o . By late summer, grasshop- pers may feel like just one more thing to deal with. The grass is tired, the garden is tired, the livestock are tired and most people are tired, too. Still, un- derstanding why grasshoppers build, where they come from and when control works best can make them a little less mysterious. They may always be part of an Oklahoma August, but they do not have to catch us completely o guard. Watch the eld edges. Pay attention to young plants. Notice when small grasshoppers rst begin to show up. Because when grasshop- pers take over, they rarely do it quietly.