Chemical Control Grasshoppers are easiest to control before they become adults. If a range of rates is listed for a chemical, higher rates generally should be used later in the season because adult grasshoppers are more difficult to control. Grasshoppers may be controlled by applying insecticides as sprays or baits. Read the label thoroughly before any insecticide application, and follow safety instructions and precautions. When spraying borders adjoining cropland, be sure to read and follow label restrictions on grazing.
Several insecticides are effective for grasshopper control.
Follow the recommended label rates, application directions, and restrictions. The low rate can be used for small hoppers, but higher rates are needed for larger grasshoppers. One option for grasshopper control is a bait. This method can provide good control when applied just before winter wheat emergence, or in circumstances when crop plants are only a few inches tall, or in areas with short, dry vegetation. Success with this method depends on uniform distribution of bait and reapplication if the bait is no longer attractive to grasshoppers.