Grasshopper plague in Colorado causes headaches for gardeners, farmers

If you feel like there’s an explosion of buzzing and chirping insects flying through backyards, gardens, and parks this year, it’s not in your head: grasshoppers are taking over Colorado.

According to entomology experts from Colorado State University and the Butterfly Pavilion, a warm, dry winter and spring this year created ideal conditions for grasshoppers to flourish.

“Some of the farmers I work with say this is the worst year they’ve ever seen,” said Karim Gharbi, a horticulture and entomology specialist with CSU’s Denver County Extension Office. “A big part of it is climate change … the grasshoppers and the plants they feed on are coming out of dormancy earlier and going into dormancy later.”

Parasites that normally limit locust populations, including fungi and roundworms, prefer cloudy, cool, humid weather and will die easily in dry conditions, Gharbi said.

His advice for people who want to combat the insects?

“Just pray,” Gharbi said, laughing.

For backyard gardeners, grasshoppers can be a nuisance, but they are generally harmless, says Cori Brant, entomology manager at the Butterfly Pavilion.

“They’re going to be a food source for other animals primarily and are great for the rest of the ecosystem, including birds and reptiles,” she said. “I put an extra bird feeder in my backyard and have seen a lot more birds that I’ve never seen before, sitting in the grass and eating grasshoppers.”

People concerned about protecting their gardens can take a few steps, such as planting “trap crops” that grasshoppers love, such as leafy greens, zinnias, grains, beans, corn, carrots and onions, Gharbi said.

But if there are so many insects, they can eat the catch crops and still be hungry for more, he said. Planting the grasshoppers’ least favorite meals — plants in the cucumber and nightshade families, such as summer and winter squash, gourds, melons, tomatoes and peppers — is also an option.

Locust populations are cyclical, often increasing for a few years before dropping to lower levels, Gharbi and Brant said. But climate change is making that trend more uncertain.

“We don’t really know for sure because climate change is happening and our ecosystems are changing,” Brant said. “While I suspect next year will be more of a typical locust year because that’s how their life cycles are, I can’t say with 100 percent certainty.”

According to Brant, gardeners can take preventative measures by tilling the soil in the fall to remove grasshopper eggs and planting aromatic plants, such as catnip or garlic, to keep them away.

“Natural remedies are a great way to support the ecosystem while protecting your fruits and vegetables,” she said.

2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.