Grasshoppers (Acrididae)
From: Ostry, Michael E.; Wilson, Louis F.; McNabb, Harold S., Jr.; Moore, Lincoln M. 1988. A guide to insect, disease, and animal pests of poplars. Agric. Handb. 677. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 118 p.
Importance- Grasshoppers ordinarily are not a pest of Populus trees, but they may injure young trees when grasses and field crops are scarce. Heavy infestation can defoliate, debark, and kill trees.
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Look For:
- Ragged leaves that have been partly chewed or completely chewed off.
- Scarred bark on twigs and branches.
- Adult grasshopper up to 1ΒΌ inches long on the foliage or twigs in summer.
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 Ragged foliage and grasshopper.
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Biology- Eggs are deposited in pods in the soil from late summer to fall. Nymphs hatch in May and June. All stages feed on foliage until the onset of cold weather. If food is scarce, they will migrate long distances in search of anything edible.
Monitoring- Inspect young trees from late June to late October in areas with heavy grass or adjacent to areas with heavy grass. Treat the entire area if 10 percent of the trees are heavily defoliated.
Control:
- When planting old pastures to Populus, plow land in late fall to expose overwintering egg pods to winter temperatures.
- Treat with a recommended insecticide or bait in August or September.
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