Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Grasshopper Management in South Dakota

Historically, grasshoppers have been a chief insect enemy to farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and the United States. Although grasshoppers are a natural component of our ecosystem, with some even being beneficial, in large numbers they can have an econom¬ic impact on agricultural commodities. When grasshoppers reach threatening populations that are economically damaging to our crops and rangelands, we typically use chemicals (insecticide) as the main method of control. However, there are integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that have been developed over the years as an approach to con¬trolling such pests as grasshoppers. These IPM strate¬gies include using biological, cultural, and physical (mechanical) control methods. When considering initiating an IPM grasshopper-management program, it’s important to first under-stand the insect’s life cycle, the number of nymphs and adults present, and whether, based on costs, the damage at the present time warrants treatment. It’s also important to know if the grasshoppers in ques¬tion are considered to be problems or pests. Not all grasshoppers are pests