Grasshoppers which are a concern every year in South Dakota are much more prevalent this year due to the drought. SDSU Extension Field Entomologist Adam Varenhorst says the grasshoppers are now feeding on whatever they can find after feasting on pastures and other crops. He says the concern now is how they might impact the winter wheat especially when it begins emerging.

He says when using chemicals to treat for grasshoppers it’s important to use the highest rates possible because once their adults they’re very hardy and can resist treatments.

Varenhorst says there have been spotty reports of grasshoppers in Eastern South Dakota with the heaviest populations hitting mostly North Central and Northwest South Dakota.

He says one of the other challenges with grasshoppers is that baits that were used on them in rangelands have been a bit scarce to find so the best option is either using insecticides or waiting to see what the grasshoppers do.