Open in App
  • Local
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • Denver7 News KMGH

    Grasshoppers are here, blister beetles could follow in Colorado

    By Danielle Kreutter,

    2024-07-18
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1LncwD_0uW3arzi00

    When you're outside this summer, it's hard not to notice all the grasshoppers. If that wasn't frustrating enough for farmers and gardeners, there's another creepy crawler to look out for.

    "Blister beetle larva tend to feed on grasshopper eggs, which can be a benefit for grasshopper control. But blister beetles also come with their own sets of nuances," said Lisa Mason, Horticulture Specialist & Entomologist for Colorado State University Extension in Arapahoe County.

    There are about 35 different species of blister beetles in Colorado.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3zQaDd_0uW3arzi00 Credit: David Cappaert

    "They have a substance called Cantharidin in which is high irritant and can highly irritate your skin if you touch them. So be mindful that if you come across blister beetles on your own plants or on crops, because they can not only irritate your skin, but in high concentration, can even cause blisters," said Mason.

    In high concentrations, it can even cause livestock to get sick.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ASGSz_0uW3arzi00

    State News

    Grasshopper invasion in Colorado: Ways to rid them from your home garden

    Jeff Anastasio 7:23 PM, Jul 17, 2024

    Fortunately Mason said she did not have data to support that the state is seeing higher numbers of blister beetles.

    Trela Phelps, the general manager at City Floral Garden Center in Denver, said it might not be likely to start seeing them in the metro.

    "For us in the city, everything's kind of tidy. You don't have really tall grasses and things like that that attract them. So hopefully, knock on wood, we won't," Phelps said.

    If you start noticing them in your garden, Phelps has some suggestions.

    "Sevin in a spray that most people will use for any kind of chewing insect that's in vegetables, It's safe for vegetables, flowers, all that type of stuff," she said, "Diatomaceous earth, which is another. A lot of people consider this more of an organic type of treatment. It is a dust and so it does need to be reapplied every time you water, or if it rains."

    Grasshoppers are here, blister beetles could follow in Colorado

    Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos Colorado high school students gain hands-on experience through UCHealth Anschutz simulation unit Grasshoppers are here, blister beetles could follow in Colorado
    New Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge opens in August Food forest and gardens in west Denver combat "heat island" effect
    ZYN nicotine pouch plant planned for Aurora sparks controversy among public health officials

    At Denver7, we're committed to making a difference in our community. We're standing up for what's right by listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the featured videos in the playlist above.

    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Local Colorado State newsLocal Colorado State
    Most Popular newsMost Popular

    Comments / 0