Grasshopper INVASION

[canesisters]

If I'm not mistaken when grasshoppers get like that they become known as locusts. We had a locust swarm in Berthoud, CO back in '84 or '85 that devoured everything in sight. They even stripped and ate the paint off of houses. Those aren't grasshoppers - they're locusts, I guarantee you.

Saw an interesting program once about what made regular old grasshoppers 'swarm' and become locusts. They said that when food starts to become scarce, like during a drought, then the population becomes denser where there IS food. As they get denser and denser, they start to bump against each other as they compete for food. Something about all that contact causes them to change - turn brownish and start to act different. They tested it by taking grasshoppers and keeping them alone for a month or so. Several times each day they took something and sort of brushed their sides. Sure enough, they started to turn brown and act more aggressive.
Weird huh?

 

[catjac1975]

I have never seen anything like it!!!!

 

[Livestock lover]

To bad...

 

[SweetMissDaisy]

Hi all!
I thought I would share an update with you. I posted a complete update here, with pics, etc...
http://sweetmissdaisy.typepad.com/sassy_sweet_notes/2013/06/garden-update-june-7-2013.html

Essentially, we're creating a mostly-grasshopper-free zone around our yard/garden by mowing, free-ranging birds, and at night spraying the hoppers that climb up onto the tall grass, weeds, fences and trees around the perimeter of the yard w/ a malathion/water spray -- stronger defense than we typically use on the farm, but still garden-safe.

We know we can't defeat them all. All we can do is try our best to keep numbers down.

I'm still using organic methods in the garden, and yes, there are certainly more than enough grasshoppers still in the garden. But at least it's not 100's on each plant!

I think it's the best we can do. Not too far from our house, the road is COVERED with them during the day. We're surrounded by pastures. Some have been cut for hay, and guess where all those hoppers WENT!? Yup. Our place. Ugh.

:/

 

[baymule]

Beautiful garden! Looks like the duck patrol is on the job!

 

[SweetMissDaisy]

Thanks! I meant to include a photo w/ that last post. I'll add it now.