Short-horned grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) ecology and management in the Western United States

Short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae: Orthoptera) are a key insect pest of both rangelands and croplands in the United States. There are approximately 400 species of short-horned grasshoppers native to the western United States. Of the 400 species, fifteen are economically damaging in the Intermountain West. Plant damage generally occurs from defoliation, yet grasshoppers can also feed on fruits or seeds. Generally, acridids can consume their body weight in foliage daily. Some species of acridids, however, can cause greater damage to the plant than others, as they clip the plant at the stem, which removes additional biomass from the plant than what is actually consumed. Control of grasshopper populations can be difficult as development timing varies by species. However, biological, chemical, and mechanical control tactics are available. Recent lawsuits highlight the growing need to develop sustainable management strategies for these pests. In this paper, we discuss the economically damaging acridid species within the Intermountain West along with their distribution and host range, as well as research findings that can inform the integrated pest management strategies to manage these pest species.