Lubber Grasshoppers

While preparing my site for gardening this week, I have noticed loads of Lubber Grasshopper Nymphs everywhere. I have done my research and have some ideas on how to keep them at bay. Since I am new to this though, I thought I would ask here and see if anyone has any tried and true organic methods or suggestions that has worked for them.

Please and thank yous.

Giving you a bump because I'm interested too. We had so many grasshoppers last year! Don't know if they were Lubbers (don't know what those are - do you have pics?) but they were everywhere. I'd like to hear about some organic control as well.

ksbmom wrote:Giving you a bump because I'm interested too. We had so many grasshoppers last year! Don't know if they were Lubbers (don't know what those are - do you have pics?) but they were everywhere. I'd like to hear about some organic control as well.

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Howdy Folks:

With tongue deeply imbedded in my cheek, "Hand catch and then dip in chocolate". Gives a nice crunch to the treat.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

I know in the past, when I have kept turkeys around, I never had grasshopper problems. I would let them free range out in the alfalfa pasture, and they would really keep the grasshoppers at bay.

Well, my chickens would do the same thing, but then, they'd also take out my garden in no time flat! Although I did notice that when we did let them range, our fire ant problem went away.

I tried to upload a picture, but I am a bit on the tech challenged side.

If you just go to google images and search Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea Guttata) you should get plenty of images. They young nymphs are about an inch in length and tend to congregate in groups. They are black with a yellow to sometimes red stripes down their back. The adults , in my opinion, are quite ugly. They are large (upward of 3-4 inches long) yellow with some black lining and red spots.

I found a pretty good site that goes through a myriad of organic options for grasshopper control.
As I am still new to this forum, so I cannot post the link. But you can also google Golden Harvest Organics. When you get to the site go to the insect tab and pick 'Grasshoppper'.


I have opted to purchase a product containing Nosema Iocustae.
I have also planted a cilantro barrier to my site, and just to be sure, am in the process of making a garlic spray (recipe included in the aforementioned web site.

I don't know if any of these things actually help, as I have not tried them before. I will keep you posted and let you know what works.

These little jerks are a bit pesky because they are poisonous, so the frequently visited bird feeder and bird bath aren't much help for this variety.

If anyone has tried these things and they have worked please let me know!!!

WardinWake wrote:

ksbmom wrote:Giving you a bump because I'm interested too. We had so many grasshoppers last year! Don't know if they were Lubbers (don't know what those are - do you have pics?) but they were everywhere. I'd like to hear about some organic control as well.

..

Howdy Folks:

With tongue deeply imbedded in my cheek, "Hand catch and then dip in chocolate". Gives a nice crunch to the treat.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

Toast or fry them first. Never had grasshoppers, but chocolate covered ants are like eating chocolate covered rice krispies.

Kay