UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 BENJ. IDE WHEELER, President 
 
 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE THOMAS FORSYTH HUNT Dean ano D|recto „ 
 
 H E. VAN NORMAN, Vice-Director and Dean 
 University Farm School 
 
 BERKELEY 
 
 CIRCULAR No. 143 
 
 (November, 1915) 
 
 CONTROL OF GRASSHOPPERS IN 
 IMPERIAL VALLEY 
 
 By WALTER E. PACKARD 
 
 Grasshoppers have caused appreciable damage in Imperial Valley 
 during the past three or four years and have become so numerous in 
 some sections as to constitute a pest. The grasshoppers are native to 
 this section, being found in the mountains surrounding the valley and 
 along the river bottoms where vegetation is sufficient to maintain them. 
 Poor cultural conditions, especially in alfalfa fields, have allowed the 
 grasshoppers to multiply almost unrestricted, which accounts for their 
 present numbers. 
 
 The greatest damage has been done in alfalfa fields, although 
 cotton, corn, garden truck and trees have been more or less injured, 
 in some cases seriously. Many old alfalfa stands, which would ordi- 
 narily yield from three-fourths of a ton to one ton and a half of hay 
 per cutting have been eaten clean, nothing remaining but bare stems. 
 Young alfalfa is often so weakened by being eaten close to the ground 
 that replanting is necessary. When the grasshoppers have matured 
 into the winged stage and the feed becomes scarce, large numbers drift 
 to adjoining corn or cotton fields, where the damage has been consider- 
 able. Where the corn or cotton is young the grasshoppers almost 
 destroy the stand. Young citrus trees seem to be especially attractive 
 to grasshoppers, for they not only eat the leaves and part of the fruit 
 but large areas of bark, girdling the smaller stems and branches. As 
 many as one hundred to three hundred grasshoppers have been counted 
 on one small tree. Other varieties of trees have been damaged, but 
 to a lesser degree. Success with small gardens has been almost impos- 
 sible where the gardens are situated near an alfalfa field infested with 
 grasshoppers, as the young growth is eaten off as soon as it appears 
 above the ground. Large acreages of beans have been destroyed when 
 
Fig. 1. — The most common species of grasshopper in Imperial A r alley. 
 (Photo by Mr. Geo. E. Stone) 
 
 Fig. 2. — Alfalfa field illustrating a complete defoliation by grasshoppers. 
 This crop should have been saved by cutting before serious damage was done. 
 The use of the grasshopper catcher and poison properly handled would have 
 saved at least two cuttings in this case. 
 
the plants were just coming up, and crops have been ruined by the 
 attack of grasshoppers at blossoming time. The flowers seem to be a 
 special attraction as it often happens the flower buds are the only parts 
 injured badly. 
 
 There are several species of grasshoppers in this section, the 
 Melanoplus devastator causing the most damage on account of their 
 very large numbers. A very large, light green grasshopper, Schistocerca 
 vaga, has been a common pest on trees, especially willow trees, for a 
 good many years. The latter appear in July in large numbers, but 
 
 h§&am&:mjm&&2gs>*. -* 
 
 Fig. 3. — Orange tree completely defoliated by grasshoppers. Not only are 
 the leaves eaten but the bark and twigs, and many large branches were de- 
 stroyed and the trees seriously set back. This orchard was grown on unculti- 
 vated land and adjoins an alfalfa field infested with grasshoppers. This damage 
 could have been avoided easily. 
 
 so far have not been noticed on plants of economic value. None of 
 the species found in the valley are truly migrating, although after 
 reaching the winged stage they drift from one field to another as the 
 food becomes scarce. This is very noticeable in alfalfa fields after the 
 alfalfa has been eaten down. During a wind the grasshoppers often 
 appear to be migrating, as they fly quite a distance before alighting, 
 but there is no true migration as occurs in many other sections. 
 
 The life histories of the various species of grasshoppers have not 
 been worked out under local conditions and therefore the exact habits 
 of the insects are not known. It is known, however, that the hoppers 
 lay their eggs during the fall, from the last of August on. The eggs 
 are laid from one-half inch to an inch in depth. A few grasshoppers 
 
live over during the winter time, although most of them disappear 
 gradually during the fall and are almost gone by the middle or last 
 of November. The young hoppers appear first in April in large 
 numbers, although they are often not noticed until May, when they 
 become large enough to do considerable damage. The young hoppers 
 attain the winged stage quite early — in four or five weeks after hatch- 
 ing. Although it is not known that more than one generation of a 
 single species occurs in this section, it has been noted that the hoppers 
 of the first brood lay eggs in May and a second brood appears in much 
 greater numbers than the first during the first part of July. In 
 some cases a third brood has been noted in September. It is possible 
 that this is either a case of two or three generations in a year, or it is 
 possible that it is a case of a later hatching of eggs. The specific facts 
 regarding the life histories of the grasshoppers are of more scientific 
 interest than of economic value since the same methods must be used 
 in the control of the insect in one case as in another. 
 
 The control of the grasshopper should not prove a difficult problem 
 in Imperial Valley, since local conditions are very favorable for their 
 control if concerted action is taken by the property owners. Practi- 
 cally all of the grasshoppers now present are hatched within the 
 irrigated area as has been noted, as the native desert does not afford 
 a favorable breeding ground. It is not necessary as in most sections, 
 therefore, to attempt to control a vast breeding ground, or to combat 
 a hoard appearing in the sky from some distant place. As it happens, 
 the most effective control measure is cultural treatment, which is in 
 line with good farming so that the labor of exterminating the grass- 
 hoppers is not an economic loss, but will rather tend to improve 
 cultural conditions. In this section where nature is so bountiful, it is 
 easy to fall into the habit of doing as little cultivation as possible, even 
 though a reasonable amount of cultivation gives profitable results. 
 Concerted action, however, is absolutely essential to complete success, 
 as the work of one man is almost a loss if his neighbors do not also 
 fight this pest. The neighborhood interest should be stimulated so 
 that every man will see that his part is carried out. 
 
 As has been stated, cultural treatment is the most successful way 
 of handling the grasshoppers. Thorough discing, or preferably plow- 
 ing where feasible, will destroy a very large percentage of the eggs 
 as they are turned up and exposed to the weather. This cultivation 
 should be carried on during December Or January and in June, after 
 the eggs have been laid and before they hatch. The effectiveness of 
 this treatment can be very clearly seen in any part of the valley, as 
 
the hoppers almost invariably appear in uncultivated alfalfa fields, 
 along ditch-banks or other uncultivated places. The hoppers never 
 appear in corn or cotton fields which have been cultivated, but migrate 
 to these fields from adjoining alfalfa fields where cultivation has not 
 been practiced. The difference between the cultivated and the un- 
 cultivated alfalfa field is very noticeable. It is probable that a 
 thorough discing of the alfalfa fields during June will destroy a large 
 percentage of the eggs which will hatch the last of June or the first 
 of July. 
 
 The discing to be effective must be very thorough, as practically 
 all of the land must be disturbed. Simply running the disc or alfalfa 
 cultivator through the field once will not accomplish the results, for 
 the land between each disc blade forms an undisturbed ridge where 
 the eggs can develop normally. The land should be covered two or 
 three times by overlapping from a half to two-thirds each round. In 
 order to stir the ground without injuring the stand of alfalfa, the 
 disc should be sharp and heavily weighted, with the disc set almost 
 straight. Cross-discing is advisable when possible without too great 
 injury to the borders. 
 
 If the cultural treatment has been neglected or for any reason 
 has not proved effective, the grasshoppers which appear in the fields 
 can be easily caught by some form of hopper-dozer. Several devices 
 have been tried in the valley and where properly used have proved to 
 be very efficient and economical. In many cases from fifty to seventy- 
 five per cent of the hoppers have been caught in going over the field 
 once with the hopper-dozer. The destruction of so large a percentage 
 will be sufficient to prevent any serious loss to crops, although in 
 most cases it will be best to go over the fields, two, three, or four times 
 in order to reduce the numbers to a minimum. A catch of thirteen 
 gallons of mature grasshoppers will remove one hopper from every 
 square foot of space on an acre. Such a catch can be secured in fifteen 
 to twenty minutes' work in a badly infested field. It is very notice- 
 able in alfalfa fields that the hoppers are in greater numbers in 
 certain patches than in others. When the hoppers are young these 
 patches can be worked over thoroughly with the hopper-dozer and a 
 large percentage of the hoppers caught before they spread out over 
 the fields and make the work more difficult. The hopper-dozer should 
 be used early in the morning or in the evening, as the grasshoppers 
 are apt to become too active during the middle of the day. The work 
 is often fifty per cent more effective if done at the right time. Several 
 farmers who have tried the hopper-dozer have become discouraged 
 
Fig. 4. — Catcher used effectively where grasshoppers are active. 
 (Photo by Mr. Geo. E. Stone) 
 
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 Fig. 5. — Old type crude oil hopper-dozer. The wings used on the sides are 
 an effective aid in preventing the grasshoppers from escaping the hopper-dozer. 
 These wings should be used in the case of the hopper catcher shown in figure 6. 
 
because of ineffective results. In nearly every case this is due to a 
 neglect of some of the fundamental principles necessary to success. 
 Either the hopper-dozer is not well constructed or the work is not 
 done at the right times. Often the first attempts are unsuccessful, 
 but by studying the local conditions the practice can be so perfected 
 that results will be secured. No one should become discouraged over 
 an unsuccessful beginning, as it often happens that the first attempts 
 are not as successful as anticipated. Repeated trials will reveal the 
 defects in the apparatus or mistakes in practice so that further 
 attempts will be successful. 
 
 Fig. 6. — A hopper catcher which has been used very successfully in grass- 
 hopper control work in Imperial Valley. This is the most satisfactory device so 
 far used in this locality. This device is shown in the accompanying drawing. 
 
 The hopper-catcher illustrated in the accompanying drawing has 
 proved to be the most effective device so far used. This machine is 
 dragged through the fields by two horses, one at each end. The grass- 
 hoppers hit the galvanized front and slide into the trap, where they 
 are later killed by the use of hot water and can be removed and dried 
 and used for chicken feed. Large quantities of grasshoppers can thus 
 be caught and considerable chicken feed secured where the grass- 
 hoppers are numerous enough to do damage in the fields. 
 
 The old-fashioned hopper-catcher, in which a galvanized iron pan 
 is filled with crude oil or water covered with kerosene, has been used 
 by a number of farmers in the valley with more or less success. This 
 device is a simple one and can be constructed at an expense of from 
 five to ten dollars, depending on the size. The galvanized iron pan 
 
8 
 
 is from three to four feet wide and from twelve to sixteen feet long 
 and is built with a rather high back so that the hoppers cannot fly 
 over. It is drawn over the field in the same way as the hopper-catcher. 
 A small hopper-dozer can be used in vineyards satisfactorily. The 
 hopper-dozer is drawn between the rows of vines with one horse, and 
 the hoppers driven from the vines by two men, one on each side. Sticks 
 with white cloth attached are effective in driving hoppers. AVhen 
 caught in crude oil the grasshoppers cannot be used as chicken feed. 
 This, together with the trouble of handling the crude oil, gives the 
 
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 Fig. 7. — Diagram of Hopper Catcher, showing side, front and top views. 
 Hoppers are killed by hot water poured through screen into bottom pan. The 
 tin vibrator or toe is an extension of the bottom pan and must be adjusted 
 properly for efficient use. (Modified from plans given in Bull. 138 Utah Agr. 
 College.) 
 
 hopper-catcher described first the advantage. It must be admitted 
 that this device has proven quite efficient in catching the hoppers, 
 although the hopper-catcher should do better work. 
 
 The balloon catcher described in the accompanying illustration has 
 been used successfully. It is the cheapest device for catching grass- 
 hoppers, but requires more labor in its use. It is pulled by two horses 
 at a sufficiently rapid speed to inflate the balloon. The chief advantage 
 of this device is that it can be drawn fast enough so that it will catch 
 a great many of the hoppers that will fly over the other catchers. 
 
The hoppers are imprisoned in the sack at the apex of the balloon 
 and can be killed by submerging the sack in hot water. They can be 
 dried and used for chicken feed as in the case of the hopper-catcher. 
 This device has proved better for hoppers after they have attained 
 the winged stage than for the young hoppers. 
 
 After the field has been thoroughly covered with the hopper- 
 catcher, arsenic poison can be put out and a large proportion of the 
 remaining hoppers killed. The mixture most commonly used is as 
 follows : bran, 25 pounds ; arsenic, 1 pound ; molasses, 2 quarts in 4 
 gallons of water; and 6 lemons. The arsenic is generally in the form 
 of Paris green, which can be mixed with a quart or two of water. 
 This is poured into a tub of water and mixed with molasses, and the 
 mixture thoroughly stirred. This can be added slowly to the bran as 
 water is added to mortar. It should be constantly stirred with a hoe 
 so that the poison is thoroughly distributed through the mass. If the 
 water containing poison is simply poured on to the bran, the poison 
 is not evenly distributed. This amount of mixture can be distributed 
 over four or five acres of ground with no danger of killing poultry 
 or stock, and will effectively kill a very large number of grasshoppers. 
 If the poison is distributed along the borders, especially immediately 
 after cutting the alfalfa and irrigating the field, the work will be 
 most effective. This poison can be used in alfalfa, cotton or corn or 
 bean fields where the grasshoppers have become numerous by spread- 
 ing with an ordinary broadcast seeder. The dead grasshoppers are 
 not noticed for three or four days, as the poison is slow in action, but 
 the mixture recommended is very effective. When used in cotton 
 fields where the grasshoppers have been causing considerable loss, as 
 many as fifty to two hundred grasshoppers have been counted under 
 one cotton plant three or four days after the poison was distributed. 
 This poison has been distributed in the fields where chickens have been 
 feeding and no loss has resulted. About one-fifteenth of an ounce of 
 this mixture has been fed to chickens without serious results. 
 
 In the case of orchards where young trees, especially citrus trees, 
 are attacked by grasshoppers, the trees can be completely covered with 
 cheesecloth which can be purchased at from two and one-half to three 
 cents per yard. This is economical and effective, although the trees 
 must be watched carefully and the cloth removed before the leaves 
 begin to brown, as complete defoliation is apt to follow too long a 
 covering. Poison can be distributed around the base of the tree or if 
 not too damp, can be put in the branches. This poisoning has been 
 done in a number of cases and has proved very effective. Cheesecloth 
 
10 
 
 has also been used very satisfactorily in protecting garden truck from 
 grasshoppers. The cheesecloth is cheap, so that it is practicable to 
 cover the ordinary garden. Small wire pins made out of old bailing 
 wire can be used in tacking the edges down. In some cases the cheese- 
 
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 Fig. 8. — Canvas Balloon Grasshopper Catcher 
 Sew strips of canvas together to make sack of the size desired. Cut this 
 into three triangles, following dotted lines given in the diagram. Sew the two 
 distant triangles together for the top, using the center triangular piece for the 
 bottom. Cut another piece of canvas 16 x 4 diagonally from corner to corner to make 
 the two side pieces, leaving extensions at each end as aprons. A 2x3 is fastened 
 to the bottom and rope extended from both bottom and top of the canvas as in 
 Figure 3. A hook is fastened to the apex of the balloon, to which a common 
 gunny sack can be attached for catching grasshoppers. The canvas apron is 
 fastened underneath the sack to prevent it from wearing out. 
 
 Cost Data 
 
 21 yds. 36-in. 10-oz. duck at 17%c $3.65 
 
 Sew canvas 2.00 
 
 2y 2 lbs. % 6 -in, rope at 20c 50 
 
 One 2x3—10 piece of lumber 20 
 
 $6.35 
 
 cloth can be torn in half so that one width will cover two rows. It 
 should not be left too long, however, but removed as soon as the plants 
 appear to be pushing it up. For lettuce this method seems to be 
 especially favorable as it produces a very tender plant. It has been 
 used on commercial market gardens profitabty, so that the price is 
 
11 
 
 not prohibitive. Poison can be used in the gardens, but it is more 
 apt to be dangerous to chickens or to children there than in the field 
 and is therefore not generally recommended. 
 
 It has been observed that when sheep have pastured on land during 
 the winter, very few grasshoppers appear in the spring. This is 
 apparently due to the trampling of the ground by the small sharp 
 hoofs. Turkeys and chickens have of course been used effectively on 
 limited areas, but could not be used as a general remedy for this pest 
 for apparent economic reasons. 
 
 Other methods suggested by farmers, such as smudging, burning 
 and driving, are not adapted to local conditions, since they are less 
 effective than in other localities where conditions are different. 
 
 If the recommendations given above are followed out and concerted 
 action is taken, there is no doubt but that the grasshopper troubles 
 of Imperial Valley can be very easily controlled. It is strongly urged 
 that the farmers and the communities where the grasshoppers have 
 caused loss get together in a co-operative arrangement to carry out 
 the methods above described. One hopper-catcher will serve quite a 
 large area, so that the expense if distributed is very small indeed. One 
 man could be given the work of using the hopper-catcher in a com- 
 munity and could go from one place to another, so he would become 
 especially proficient and the results of his work would be satisfactory. 
 
STATION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION 
 
 REPORTS 
 Adaptation, and Grafting. 
 
 Appendix to Viticultural 
 
 1897. Resistant Vines, their Selection, 
 Report for 1896. 
 
 1902. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1898-1901. 
 
 1903. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1901-03. 
 
 1904. Twenty-second Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1903—04. 
 
 1914. Report of the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Statoin, July, 
 
 1913-June, 1914. 
 
 1915. Report of the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station, July, 
 
 1914-June, 1915. 
 
 BULLETINS 
 
 No. 
 
 168. 
 
 169. 
 170. 
 174. 
 177. 
 
 178. 
 184. 
 
 185. 
 
 195. 
 197. 
 
 198. 
 203. 
 
 207. 
 208. 
 211. 
 
 212. 
 213. 
 216. 
 
 Observations on Some Vine Diseases 
 
 in Sonoma County. 
 Tolerance of the Sugar Beet for Alkali. 
 Studies in Grasshopper Control. 
 A New Wine-Cooling Machine. 
 A New Method of Making Dry Red 
 
 Wine. 
 Mosquito Control. 
 Report of the Plant Pathologist to 
 
 July 1, 1909. 
 Report of Progress in Cereal Investi- 
 gations. 
 The California Grape Root-worm. 
 Grape Culture in California ; Improved 
 
 Methods of Wine-making; Yeast 
 
 from California Grapes. 
 The Grape Leaf-Hopper. 
 Report of the Plant Pathologist to 
 
 July 1, 1906. 
 The Control of the Argentine Ant. 
 The Late Blight of Celery. 
 How to Increase the Yield of Wheat 
 
 in California. 
 California White Wheats. 
 The Principles of Wine-making. 
 A Progress Report upon Soil and 
 
 Climatic Factors Influencing the 
 
 Composition of Wheat. 
 
 No. 
 
 220. Dosage Tables. 
 
 225. Tolerance of Eucalyptus for Alkali. 
 
 227. Gratfe Vinegar. 
 
 230. Enological Investigations. 
 
 234. Red Spiders and Mites of Citrus Trees. 
 
 241. Vine Pruning in California. Part L 
 
 242. Humus in California Soils. 
 244. Utilization of Waste Oranges. 
 
 246. Vine Pruning in California. Part II. 
 
 248. The Economic Value of Pacific Coast 
 
 Kelps. 
 
 249. Stock Poisoning Plants of California. 
 
 250. The Loquat. 
 
 251. Utilization of the Nitrogen and Or- 
 
 ganic Matter in Septic and Imhoff 
 Tank Sludges. 
 
 252. Deterioration of Lumber. 
 
 253. Irrigation and Soil Conditions in the 
 
 Sierra Nevada Foothills, California. 
 
 254. The Avocado in California. 
 
 255. The Citricola Scale. 
 
 256. Value of Barley for Cows fed Alfalfa. 
 
 257. New Dosage Tables . 
 
 258. Mealy Bugs of Citrus Trees. 
 
 259. Commercial Fertilizers. 
 
 260. Availability Studies on Nitrogenous 
 
 Fertilizers. 
 
 No. 
 65. The California Insecticide Law. 
 
 69. The Extermination of Morning-Glory. 
 
 70. Observations on the Status of Corn 
 
 Growing in California. 
 76. Hot Room Callusing. 
 
 79. List of Insecticide Dealers. 
 
 80. Boys' and Girls' Clubs. 
 
 82. The Common Ground Squirrels of 
 
 California. 
 
 83. Potato Growing Clubs. 
 87. Alfalfa. 
 
 100. Pruning Frosted Citrus Trees. 
 
 101. Codling Moth Control in the Sacra- 
 
 mento Valley. 
 
 106. Directions for using Anti-Hog-Cholera 
 
 Serum. 
 
 107. Spraying Walnut Trees for Blight and 
 
 Aphis Control. 
 
 108. Grape Juice. 
 
 109. Community or Local Extension Work 
 
 by the High School Agricultural De- 
 partment. 
 
 110. Green Manuring in California. 
 
 111. The Use of Lime and Gypsum on Cali- 
 
 fornia Soils. 
 
 113. Correspondence Courses in Agriculture. 
 
 114. Increasing the Duty of Water. 
 
 115. Grafting Vinifera Vineyards. 
 
 117. The Selec'ion and Cost of a Small 
 Pumping Plant. 
 
 CIRCULARS 
 
 No. 
 
 118. 
 119. 
 121. 
 
 The County Farm Bureau 
 
 Winery Directions. 
 
 Some Things the Prospective Settler 
 
 Should Know. 
 122. The Management of Strawberry Soils 
 
 in Pajaro Valley. 
 
 124. Alfalfa Silage for Fattening Steers. 
 
 125. Aphids on Grain and Cantaloupes. 
 
 126. Spraying for the Grape Leaf Hopper. 
 
 127. House Fumigation. 
 
 128. Insecticide Formulas. 
 
 129. The Control of Citrus Insects. 
 
 130. Cabbage Growing in California. 
 
 131. Spraying for Control of Walnut Aphis 
 
 132. When to Vaccinate against Hog 
 
 Cholera. 
 
 133. Country Farm Advisor. 
 
 134. Control of Raisin Insects. 
 
 135. Official Tests of Dairy Cows. 
 
 136. Melilotus Indica. 
 
 137. Wood Decay in Orchard Trees. 
 
 138. The Silo in California Agriculture. 
 
 139. The Generation of Hvdrocvanic Acid 
 
 Gas in Fumigation by Portable Ma- 
 chines. 
 
 140. The Practical Application of Improved 
 
 Methods of Fermentation in Califor- 
 nia Wineries during 1913 and 1914. 
 
 141. Standard Insecticides and Fungicides 
 
 versus Secret Preparations. 
 
 142. Practical and Inexpensive Poultry Ap- 
 
 pliances.