How to Effectively Eliminate a Grasshopper Infestation – Practical Guide

Before diving into the details about how to eliminate grasshoppers from your plants and crops, it’s essential to understand that when these insects congregate in large swarms, they wreak havoc akin to a natural disaster. The scale of their destruction can only be fully grasped by those who have witnessed it firsthand.

The desert locust is one of the most harmful species. When swarming, it feeds on virtually any green leaf, grain, or seed within reach. These swarms exhibit voracious feeding behavior, with each insect consuming its weight in plants daily. Given that these swarms can cover over 1,000 square kilometers and contain up to 80 million locusts per square kilometer, the statistics speak for themselves.

These insects pose a serious threat, devastating all types of crops and significantly harming the economy and livelihoods of entire nations by drastically reducing food supplies for local populations.

Unfortunately, facing large swarms of locusts can be incredibly challenging. Most effective treatments depend on pesticides and chemical products that can be detrimental to humans and other animals. Moreover, many of these solutions only work effectively when applied in the early stages of locust development, making it crucial to detect these threats early to treat the affected areas promptly.

Among the resources available are insect growth regulators, which target young insects during their molting phases. These substances are applied in narrow strips across the ground, so when the locusts traverse these bands, they absorb a lethal dose of pesticide while shedding their skin.

There are also biopesticides, which consist of natural fungi applied to young locusts that ultimately eliminate them. While this treatment can be costlier, it proves non-harmful to humans and the environment.

We can also turn to natural remedies for eliminating locust infestations. These approaches are often the best choice for smaller-scale infestations affecting your garden or backyard. Natural remedies typically have minimal environmental impact and do not pollute the surroundings. Here are some effective methods:

• One of the most natural methods is utilizing biological pest control. This ancient technique involves attracting or introducing natural predators that feed on the pest. For locusts or grasshoppers, chickens and ducks work wonders. These birds consider these insects a favorite food source, and raising chickens also yields benefits like fresh eggs and high-quality organic fertilizer from their droppings. Other beneficial predators may include spiders and parasitoid flies. To learn more about this technique, check out another post on Biological Pest Control: what it is, its advantages, disadvantages, and examples.
• Another homemade remedy involves creating an ecological anti-locust insecticide using water and seeds from Melia azedarach, commonly known as the Chinaberry tree. Take 100 to 125 grams of these seeds, grind them as finely as possible, and dilute them in half a liter of water. Stir vigorously and let the mixture sit overnight. After that, strain it and apply it with a sprayer. Spray this solution on all plants needing protection, ensuring complete coverage. It’s best to apply it in the early morning or late evening when plants can tolerate the moisture better. Renew the application weekly. Keep in mind that while this mixture is entirely natural, it can be toxic to most animals, so take care with pets or children in the treated area.
• You can also use a mixture of garlic, onion, and chili peppers. Each ingredient works well on its own, but blending them can enhance effectiveness. Blend the ingredients and strain them, then dilute the concentrated solution with four parts of water for each part of the mixture.