In the pioneer days, early settlers recorded years of drought with grasshopper plagues. The hoppers in their last stage as adults grow wings and fly where they wish and will chew on anything. The pioneers reported how they even chewed the paint off the houses and outbuildings.
Grasshoppers are not much of a problem today in tilled fields that disturb the eggs in the fall and winter. The grassy areas around our livestock buildings, however, are ideal for them because they are undisturbed and provide the grass and other vegetation they eat.
Grasshoppers are general feeders and will eat anything that is green. I have observed them chewing up swine curtains, putting holes in them that must be patched or replaced.
This year is the third year in a row with favorable hatching conditions in grassy areas, and I have observed a very large number of grasshoppers around our swine finisher buildings. I am concerned that they will chew holes in them in August, when they get wings and are just waiting for the last stage of their life.
When mowing around your building, observe the number of grasshoppers that are jumping out of your way. Then decide if you need to treat to kill them before they grow wings and start putting random holes in the curtains.
Donald Lewis, ISU Extension entomologist, says the insecticides that control grasshoppers include pyrethroids such as bifenthrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, and Sevin or malathion. Check the label for turf grass application and treat the area.
Be sure to shut the curtains once a week to make sure that mice are also out of them as they also like to chew holes. A little prevention will protect your curtain investment this year.