Control of Pest Grasshoppers in North America †

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) population outbreaks occur frequently and consume damaging amounts of livestock forage and crops on millions of hectares of the western USA. The main method of controlling grasshopper outbreaks there consists of aerially applied spray with chemical insecticides. Although it is relatively cheap, fast, and efficient, broad spectrum insecticides can pose a threat serious risks to human health, and non-target organism populations which impacts the environment. As an alternative, the use biological control organisms more specific to pest grasshoppers is a less environmentally hazardous alternative to traditional, synthetic insecticides. This paper reviews the many different (viral, bacterial, fungal) insect pathogens and application methods that have been tested as alternatives to synthetic insecticide sprays to manage pest grasshopper populations. ABSTRACT: Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) frequently inflict damage on millions of hectares of western rangelands and crops. The main method of controlling grasshopper outbreaks consists of covering their infestations with chemical insecticides. Although it is relatively cheap, fast, and efficient, chemical control bears serious risks to human health, non-target organisms, and the environment. To overcome this challenge, biological control is a less environmentally hazardous alternative to traditional, synthetic insecticides. This paper reviews strategies that could be used as effective ways to control such pests with a special focus on effective bait formulations that might provide a key model in developing biological control strategies for the grasshopper population.