What do you know about grasshoppers, specifically how to prevent them? Searching online has been a bit problematic due to some scientific terminology that puts it a bit over my head, but more so because every article seems to include pictures which I really, *really *can’t stand to look at (my aversion has reached almost phobic proportions).
My guess is that they’re thriving on the smorgasboard that is the backyard of the abandoned house behind mine and the overgrown yard of the lazyass owners next door. Obviously I can’t control those things but is there anything I can spray in my own yard to deter them? I’m ashamed that just letting them be and coexist with nature is not an option. I don’t like to upset the balance of the ecosystem but I simply cannot abide them. Not to mention they’re eating my goddamn jasmine. How about killing the ones I find? No way can I whack them with my shoe (retch) but if there’s something to zap them with that’s slightly more humane than wasp spray I’ll be glad to invest in it. I’m not a total psycho, you know
Also, is it a cyclical thing like in the bible? THEY first appeared last summer and I’ve lived here almost seven years now. Do I have this plague to look forward to for another five years or what?
Um, outside your phobia, grasshoppers are no big problem maybe, so there’s little need to figure out ways to kill them?
Isn’t it generally recommended to deal with phobias through therapy than just avoid the problem? The slow aversion therapy (you start with talking, pictures, to videos, to handling live creatures) is used for spider and insect phobias (since they are common).
Many personal stories mention how one small phobia left untreated suddenly develops into a life-crippling full phobia, so I would prefer to deal with the phobia and not the critters.
The most natural way to fight critters is usually either finding a predator bug that feeds on them; or finding a pheromene-baited trap (sometimes you catch only females, which cuts off future generations.
You’d have to deal with emptying the trap, though.
If you find the right species of birds that loves grasshoppers, you could invite them over.
None of these methods will 100% eliminate critters, only keep them in check. But then, spraying chemicals* will not guarantee 100%, either, because with mutations and migrations, new grasshoppers will appear over time.
I don’t know how poisonous the allowed chemicals in your state are
IAMNAbiologist for grasshoppers, but generally speaking, if conditions are favorably for growing grasshoppers, then a lot will be around. This means:
a place to live (the jungle you mentioned)
plants to eat (your jasmin?), though often critters will eat several different plants
good weather, which varies from species to species: some need warm winters and wet springs, other dry springs etc. So if the weather is similar to last year, you’ll have a load this year, too.
lack of predators/ competition (birds, other bugs)
Immigration from other areas if your area is looking good.
You can’t change the weather; you can only affect the food plants in your yard, not the rest; you can’t change the living conditions in the jungle; you can’t affect immigration from the surrounding areas.
So if your jungle is a good place for grasshoppers to live, you’ll have a varying amount with a high base level.
Darn it… I was looking forward to learning some trick to repel/avoid these grasshoppers.
I too am phobic about them, I will literally lose my sh*t if one gets within 12 feet or so from me. Needless to say, late summer is hell for me with them getting bigger and in bigger numbers…
I’m fine with other insects and creepy crawlers though (spiders, snakes, etc.)
Any tip or trick to repel them would be appreciated!
But I’m guessing that dealing with the phobia is the only true way to deal with this, ugh…
Maybe you could find a nice toad that feeds on grasshoppers and import it into your back yard. On second thought, that idea hasn’t worked out so well in the past…
If you want me to make them go away, you’ll have to deposit the sum of One Meelyun Dollars into my PayPal account. And, by the way, there are only 2 "r"s in my name.
Am I trying to repel them or starting a pot of chili for 'em?
I actually do have lots of hot peppers on hand, just need a sun tea jar thingy. I’m willing to try this and anything else that’s within reason (I’m not looking at you, BobArrgh;)). I’d much rather repel them in a non toxic way than spray nasty chemicals all over them and my yard.
