ROSEVILLE, Calif. — A grasshopper infestation may be harmless to humans but some homeowners in a West Roseville neighborhood say these pests are a major nuisance.
“(I) could not come out the front door without 50 of them jumping on you,” said Louie Hayashida.
The grasshopper infestation has taken over the neighborhood in and around Adelaide Drive, near Fiddyment Road.
Hayashida says the problem has been going on for two weeks.
“A neighbor down the street, paid a pest control company $600 to come spray their whole property. And not (even) two days later, it was back just the same,” said Hayashida.
Neighbors say some of the drains smell like dead fish.
“It is odd, but it's not rare,” said Lynn Kimsey, professor of Entomology at UC Davis.
Kimsey says this year’s conditions of dry grass and warm weather was perfect for a lot of eggs to survive and hatch this spring.
“Every five to ten years, we get reports of outbreaks like this,” said Kimsey. “It is not something people have to worry about except just the entertainment value for a week or two.”
She says the difference between locusts and grasshoppers are a "numbers game." When grasshoppers are in large quantities, they are called locusts.
According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources program, grasshoppers lay their eggs in soil of “undisturbed areas” in the fall and hatch in the spring. Adult grasshoppers can live two to three months.
Kimsey says there is no real harm for those currently dealing with the influx of insects, especially since the majority of them are juveniles.
“They can (bite), but their jaws are kind of like cutting shears, they're designed for plant material. So, they will give you a healthy pinch, but little ones like that? No, not even remotely,” she said. “They're absolutely harmless, except if you don’t like them.”
While young, these bugs do not make sound and shouldn’t really bother you all that much. Your garden, though? That'll be bothered. Kimsey says the bugs can “pretty much strip a place” of vegetation, eat some other insects and even dog food if resources are scarce enough.
So, how can you get rid of these grasshoppers?
Kimsey says your best bet is waiting for them to move on or let the ecosystem run its course. If you want immediate results, she says you could probably kill them or pay for someone to remove them, but those options can be costly or cause more issues as the bugs stink when decomposing if not cleaned up.
“They'll either run out of food or be eaten by other things, so I really don't think it's something that people should worry about,” she said.
For those not squeamish, once the population dies down a bit, Kimsey says you can just “pick them up and throw them away. They really do not fight back.”
Anyone with pet turtles or reptiles can gather grasshoppers as treats for the animals (or yourself), but only if you are okay with what she calls “freezer pets.” You can freeze grasshoppers in large quantities and use them as you please.
Hayashida hopes the city and county agencies can get ahead of the problem or sweep the streets. He is disappointed with the city’s lack of action.
ABC10 reached out to the city of Roseville but did not hear back.
Placer County released a public service announcement said the grasshoppers have been found in West Roseville and Lincoln and said there are very limited options when the grasshoppers get into residential landscaping.
Experts suggest planning ahead when protecting your garden from insects. Here are some tips on how to protect your garden and plant life from these critters before they pass through your area:
- Grow a Green Border - leave long grass around your garden so the grasshoppers feed on that instead of your crops
- Natural Predators - attract more birds to your yard and garden
- Cover plants - mesh, cloth and metal screens can be installed over your garden to keep bugs out. Note if grasshoppers are hungry enough, they may eat through mesh or cloth
- Use insecticides - This option can be costly and time consuming. Read labels when spraying anything onto your garden
