Grasshopper/Mormon Cricket |
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Background
Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets are part of the native ecosystems of the United States. They play an important role, serving as food for wildlife and contribute to nutrient cycling on rangelands. There are over 700 different species of grasshoppers in the United States. Most species do not cause problems for ranchers and farmers, but approximately 40 species can develop into outbreak levels and damage crops and forage. Some of the most damaging species to rangeland forage include the migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes), bigheaded grasshopper (Aulocara elliotti) and whitewhiskered grasshopper (Ageneotettix deorum).
The two major species affecting croplands are the twostripped grasshopper (M. bivitattus) and the redlegged grasshopper (M. femurrubrum). (Grasshopper species information link: http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/grasshopper/) Although closely related to locusts that cause widespread devastation to large areas of Africa and Asia, true locusts do not occur in the United States. Grasshopper and Mormon cricket outbreaks in 2001 caused an estimated $25 million to crops in Utah alone, but outbreaks have historically occured throughout the 17 States that lie on or west of the 100th meridian.
Mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex) are a ground dwelling katydid that occurs in the western Rocky Mountain basins. During out breaks they form migratory bands that "march" across rangelands. At very high populations they may damage the rangeland forage, but they are primarily a pest when they enter and consume croplands. Recent outbreaks have occurred in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming.
The Plant Protection Act (Text, 4 Kb) authorizes USDA-APHIS-PPQ to cooperate with Federal land management agencies, State agencies and private landowners to control grasshopper and Mormon cricket populations on western rangelands. USDA-APHIS-PPQ conducts annual surveys to detect developing outbreaks. We provide the survey information to cooperators and the public so that they may make informed decisions about controling grasshopper and Mormon cricket populations. In large outbreaks, only a cooperative effort to control grasshoppers of Mormon crickets would be effective. If we are requested to control populations in a cooperative program, we will evaluate the need and if a control measure is likely to be environmentalysafe and effective before proceeding. Our methods for control include the aerial or ground application of pesticides. We have analyzed the potential impacts of these control measures in an Environmental Impact Statement. An Environmental Assessment is prepared for each control program. All procedures outlined on the pesticide labels, NEPA documents, public meeting and consultation to protect Endangered and Threatened species are followed during control programs.