MODOC COUNTY, Calif. — As temperatures rise, Modoc County residents are grappling with a notable surge in grasshopper populations this summer, posing a significant challenge across the region.
According to Redding-based Big Time Pest Control, this year has witnessed a marked increase in grasshopper activity. Alturas resident Jackie King described a scene of relentless grasshopper presence in her neighborhood, devouring garden plants and even some indoor foliage over recent weeks.
“In all my 45 years here, I’ve never seen anything like it,” King remarked, reflecting on the unprecedented intensity of this season’s infestation. “They’ve stripped everything bare; not a single flower left. We usually have a few grasshoppers each year, but never like this.”
King expressed uncertainty about when the grasshoppers might diminish, hopeful that her garden would rebound by next year.
Addressing strategies to mitigate grasshopper damage, experts from MasterClass recommend various methods such as dusting plants with flour, using organic insecticides, deploying traps, and fostering habitats that attract natural predators like birds and lizards. They also advise gardeners to cover plants, maintain weed-free gardens, and utilize substances with strong odors to deter grasshoppers.
The pervasive nature of the grasshopper invasion underscores the urgency for residents to implement proactive measures to safeguard their gardens amidst this challenging season.
