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Grasshopper/Mormon Cricket |
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Background
Rangeland in the western United States is a valuable agricultural resource for livestock production and provides an important habitat for wildlife. Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets (hereafter, referred to collectively as grasshoppers) are natural components of this ecosystem. However, their populations can reach outbreak levels and cause serious economic losses to rangeland forage, especially when accompanied by a drought.
Not all grasshopper species significantly damage rangeland forage, so action to protect rangeland resources is not always required when grasshopper populations increase. However, a rapid and effective response is required when a grasshopper outbreak develops and threatens rangeland forage. During such an event, Federal land management agencies, State agriculture departments, county and local governments, private groups, and/or individuals can request assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to suppress rangeland grasshopper populations. Under the Plant Protection Act, APHIS has the authority, subject to funding availability, to treat Federal, State, or private lands that have economically significant infestations of grasshoppers.
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News and Information
- USDA Announces Additional Funding to Respond to Expected Grasshopper Outbreaks in Western States
- Fact Sheet - Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets
- 2010 Grasshopper Forecast Information
Maps
- Grasshopper Hazard Map (PDF; 670 Kb)
Management
- Field Study Using Metarhizium acridum,
a Mycoinsecticide for Control of Grasshoppers, Environmental Assessment, December 2010 [comments due January 28, 2010] (PDF; 2 Mb)
- Comments may be sent by email to: Metarhizium.EA@aphis.usda.gov
- Comments may also be mailed to:
Charles Brown
National Grasshopper Policy Manager
USDA/APHIS/PPQ
4700 River Road, Unit 26
Riverdale, MD 20737
- Environmental Documents
- ARS Grasshopper Management
- Grasshopper Integrated Pest Management User Handbook
- Grasshopper Guidebook - Provisional (PDF; 1.8Mb)
Contact:
Charles Brown
National Policy Manager
301-851-2119
E-mail: Charles.L.Brown@aphis.usda.gov
