However, some poultry may cause substantial injury to the garden. Even these predators may be overwhelmed during outbreak years. Spores of the disease, Nosema locustae , are commercially available as a formulation on bran bait. This disease can be an effective control, but it will act slowly. It will have little or no impact on later instars or adult grasshoppers that move into your yard or garden.
Chemical control is often the best alternative for eliminating heavy infestations of grasshoppers.
Adult grasshoppers are difficult to control with insecticides due to their size and decreased susceptibility to the insecticides. These stages will occur from late June through mid July. At this time most eggs will have hatched, the young hoppers will be more susceptible to the insecticide, and they will still be concentrated in the hatching areas. Grasshoppers will be concentrated in these areas and they can be controlled more effectively than when dispersed later in the summer. Often homeowners do not own the adjacent areas, and treatment may not be possible.