Worldwide, grasshoppers are some of the most serious agricultural pests, most often due to their direct feeding on the harvestable portion of the crop. However, in the United States, pest outbreaks occur most often in the western U. S., or following drought in other, generally wetter regions, including Kentucky. Grasshoppers are insects in the Order Orthoptera. The nymphal stage can be distinguished from the adult by the nature of the wings.
Nymphs have nonfunctional wing pads whereas adults have fully developed, functional wings.
The adult wings are folded over the back when not in use. They all have threadlike antennae that are shorter than the body. In Kentucky, the impact grasshoppers have on the health and economics of the crops grown in the state varies with the crop, and within the season. Generally, in Kentucky, small grains such as wheat are harvested in the early summer long before grasshoppers are large enough to do much damage. In the fall, grasshoppers have disappeared before the small grains emerge.