Grasshopper & katydid population surges in Abilene: Here’s what you can do

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) — The population of grasshoppers and katydids is on the rise and causing damage to properties in the Big Country. However, there are measures that you can take to keep them away from your home.

The typical lifespan of an average grasshopper is generally around 12 months, but they often don’t reach their full lifespan due mostly to predators or winter months. Oftentimes, grasshoppers will lay their eggs during the fall, which germinate and emerge around late spring and early summer when temperatures are ideal for them. The consistent rainfall the Big Country has been seeing has caused an abundance of new and continued plant growth. That growth has, in turn, allowed for the population of both grasshoppers and katydids to explode in our area.

Most people think of these bugs as a garden nuisance that ruins your tomato plants; however, they can be a destructive force to many local farmers when their numbers are up like they are this year. Nolan County Extension Agent Zachary Wilcox explained the pattern he has seen these pests have in rural and farmland areas.

“They have really devastated, you know, just people’s trees and the landscape around their house. Of course, we’re also battling out in the field on roll crops. They can just really be devastating to a young cotton plant trying to come up. They prefer that new tender growth, but when they run out of that, that’s when we start to see them on trees or shrubs and things like that,” Wilcox shared.

Most people who reside beyond the city limits can often find a remedy for this problem with pesticides that can easily be found at most home improvement stores or farm and ranch supply stores. For those with children or outdoor pets who likely do not want harsh chemicals in their yards, there are many natural and biological choices for keeping the grasshoppers away, such as an orange oil solution. One of the most ideal ways to control the grasshopper population around your home is with general lawn maintenance. The manager of Jackson Brothers Feed and Seed on South Treadaway, Glen Jackson, explained how this simple method can help.

“The best thing to do is try to keep everything mowed down. That way, they don’t have a place to go hide. If you limit the number of places like that around your place, then, of course, you limit that they’ll come in,” Jackson said.

Jackson went on to outline how the increased population of grasshoppers and katydids can also attract other unwanted pests. Some of which can be dangerous.

“Any time the bugs are around, you’re going to have whatever eats on the bugs. You have more critters, more rats, mice and stuff. Small snakes are going to be a problem, which then brings in big snakes,” Jackson explained.

Jackson also recommended keeping the area around any outdoor water source clean and free of clutter. Pests such as grasshoppers, wasps, and even snakes often seek out water sources such as outdoor faucets, pools, and pet water bowls.

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