Why we're seeing so many grasshoppers in the Fort Collins area, statewide

Karen Wagner was finishing up her usual hike winding through tawny-colored grasses at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area to the property's historic cabin.

The only thing more oppressive on the early afternoon of July 12 than the 100-degree temperature was the grasshoppers. Gobs of them.

“They’re crazy; they’re attack grasshoppers," the Fort Collins resident said with a laugh. "You can't sit more than 5 minutes. I probably have a ton of them in my backpack."

Wagner is not alone in her experience at the natural area southwest of Masonville.

The grasshopper outbreak was severe enough that the Fort Collins Natural Areas cautioned users on its website: "Use caution on trails. Throughout Bobcat Ridge Natural, there are large numbers of grasshoppers present.''

Karl Manderbach has been a ranger at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area since it opened in 2006. He's seen grasshopper infestations before, but not like this year.

"In those 18 years I’ve been here, this is probably the worst year I’ve seen it," he said while walking the site's paved trail where grasshoppers jumped out of his way.

Manderbach said about a month ago, natural areas staff posted the caution on COTREX, a state trails app, to warn users of a potential safety concern.

“The biggest concern that I had and we had as a department is that grasshoppers can jump up into somebody’s glasses and get between their glasses and their eyes," he said while sitting at a wooden table under a shelter where hundreds of grasshoppers were beating the heat. "That could cause an issue falling off a horse or bike.

"You can see on the table here behind me that they just come up and land all over your body. They are a general nuisance if people don’t like insects."

Bobcat Ridge is far from the only place seeing an influx of the insects. Social media posts from Pueblo to Fort Collins tell tales of grasshoppers munching marigolds, partaking of petunias and liking lettuce leaves.

It's enough to make you forget about miller moths.

Why is Colorado being overrun by grasshoppers?

Lisa Mason, Colorado State University Extension entomologist and horticulture specialist for Arapahoe County, said grasshoppers are causing damage to home gardens and flowers as well as agricultural fields.

"We are hearing reports of record numbers of grasshoppers around Colorado and there is noticeable damage,'' she said. "They are voracious eaters.''

Mason said grasshopper populations fluctuate from year to year.

Grasshoppers lay their eggs in the soil, where they overwinter. The eggs hatch in mid- to late-spring, depending on soil temperature. When the eggs hatch, the tiny nymphs move to the surface and seek tender foliage on which to feed.

And there is a lot of foliage to feed on this year due to last year's near-record to record-breaking rain.

"This year, we had a hot, dry spring and early summer and grasshoppers do really well in those conditions along with the availability of food," she said.

So, what can you do to get rid of grasshoppers?

Unfortunately, grasshoppers are the most difficult insect to control because they are highly mobile, according to CSU Extension.

The CSU Extension website states using sprays or baits can be successful but only when applied to developing stages of grasshoppers and concentrated at sites where egg laying occurs.

"In general, there is no prefect solution to control grasshoppers after they become adults,'' Mason said.

Mason said the beast measure of protection is placing row covers over vegetable gardens. She added insecticides have limited effectiveness and only when used according to the label.

"If really dedicated, on a small scale you can go out in the early mornings and late evenings when they slow down, catch them and put them in a bowl of water," she said.

Natural predators that find grasshoppers a gourmet meal include blister beetles, robber flies and many birds.

Manderbach had his own solution while pointing out shrubs nearly denuded by hordes of grasshoppers basking in the shade of a picnic table near the historic cabin.

“What do we do about it?'" he said. "We need more chickens."

Mason said the grasshoppers aren't going away anytime soon.

"They will be around until we get cold temperatures,'' she said. "An early freeze might mean the end a little sooner. If we have a warm fall, they will be around here for a while.''

Winter never looked so good.