The differential grasshopper is a later season pest and more prominent in southern Minnesota. Two-striped grasshoppers are olive green with two yellow stripes on the dorsum. The migratory grasshopper resembles the red-legged grasshopper, but migratory grasshoppers have a black band behind the eyes. Finally, the clear-winged grasshopper is the smallest of the pest species in our region. Wings are colored with brown spots, contrasting the light tan body color.
Grasshoppers are typically present in field crops below economic thresholds.
Steady population increases over several years result in outbreaks, rather than the intense population explosions often attributed to these pests. Normal rainfall patterns are detrimental to grasshopper populations in Minnesota. In addition, grasshoppers become a problem for farmers when grassy areas near fields are mowed or drought kills other sources of food, and large numbers of grasshoppers accumulate in crops from these sub-optimal habitats. Damage Grasshoppers are foliage feeders, and at low population levels will feed on all leaf tissue except the midribs. In outbreak years they will even feed on plant stems.