Grasshopper outbreak affecting northwest Solano County

June 14, 2012

A cloud of grasshoppers making its way through northwest Solano County is leaving vegetation shredded in its wake.

From Cherry Glen Road to the county line, residents are reporting large numbers of grasshoppers eating their vegetation.

"Unfortunately, this is just one of those things you have to wait it out," said Solano County Agricultural Commissioner Jim Allan.

Residents can protect specific plants by covering them with a fine metal mesh screen, Allan said.

Solano County agricultural officials said a combination of weather and environmental factors brewed up the right conditions for the grasshopper population to explode this year. 

California is home to more than 200 species of grasshoppers, but only a few cause significant problems to local vegetation.  Agricultural officials are in the processing of confirming which variety is infesting the area.

Residents are discouraged from using pesticides to kill the grasshoppers as this option will also rid the property of the beneficial organisms as well, such as birds and toads.

Allan said commercial agriculture growers have pesticides available to them that specifically target grasshoppers.  These pesticides are not available to homeowners.

Click here for more information about managing grasshoppers.