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Grasshoppers can be destructive pests of agricultural crops. The differential grasshopper (shown here) is one of the most destructive types out of more than 600 species occurring in the United States. The eggs of differential grasshoppers winter over in soil. In the spring, when soil conditions are warm and moist, grasshopper nymphs hatch out. By late July, the nymphs have molted five or six times to grow into adults that are between 30 to 45 millimeters long. When sufficient numbers survive to adulthood they pose a serious economic threat to farmers. Equipped with powerful mandibles, these general feeders will attack a variety of plants such as small grains, corn, alfalfa, soybeans, cotton, clover, grasses, and tobacco.
Image and text copyright © Dennis Kunkel. All rights reserved. |
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