He reviewed the history of grasshopper outbreaks and their control in Manitoba, noting that wheat, oats and barley were most often injured. Results showed that losses caused by grasshoppers were dynamic but small relative to the dynamics of crop price and yield losses independent of grasshoppers. Economic losses caused by grasshoppers tended to occur when economic gains were otherwise depressed because of poor crop yields due to drought or low crop prices. Melanoplus bivittatus was studied by Mukerji et al . They found that grasshoppers waste 6.2-times as much wheat as they consume.
Foliage damage is reflected in lower grain yields.
A significant inverse relationship between grasshopper density and grain yield was seen. Hardman et al . Grasshoppers are not just an agricultural pest. High populations around airports may attract feeding birds, increasing the chances of bird strikes to aircraft. The stench was very unpleasant to vacationers.