California

California
California is within:
Country:	United States of America

State ecology

California is located on the west coast of the United States. The ecology of California is exceptionally diverse, shaped by its wide range of climates, elevations, and geographic features. The state includes deserts, mountains, forests, wetlands, grasslands, chaparral, and a long, varied coastline. Grasshoppers in California represent a diverse and ecologically significant group of insects found across these wide ranges of habitats, from deserts and grasslands to coastal scrublands and mountainous regions. Grasshoppers play a vital role as primary herbivores, feeding on grasses and other plants, and in turn serving as prey for birds, reptiles, and other animals. Their presence can indicate the health of rangelands and natural ecosystems. However, in some years—particularly those with hot, dry conditions and mild winters—grasshopper populations can surge and cause significant damage to crops such as alfalfa, lettuce, and wheat.

Highlighted species from California

Species	Official common name	Image
Ageneotettix deorum	White-whiskered grasshopper
Amphitornus coloradus	Striped grasshopper
Anabrus simplex	Mormon cricket
Arphia conspersa	Speckled rangeland grasshopper
Arphia pseudo-nietana	Red-winged grasshopper
Aulocara elliotti	Big-headed grasshopper
Aulocara femoratum	White cross grasshopper
Camnula pellucida	Clear-winged grasshopper
Cordillacris crenulata	Crenulated winged grasshopper
Cordillacris crenulata	Crenulated winged grasshopper
Cordillacris occipitalis	Western spotted-winged grasshopper
Derotmema haydenii	Hayden's grasshopper
Dissosteira carolina	Carolina grasshopper
Hesperotettix viridis	Meadow purple-striped grasshopper
Melanoplus alpinus	Alpine grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus	Two-striped grasshopper
Melanoplus devastator	Devastating grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis	Differential grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis	Differential grasshopper
Melanoplus femurrubrum	Red-legged grasshopper
Melanoplus foedus	Striped sand grasshopper
Melanoplus packardii	Packard grasshopper
Melanoplus rugglesi	Nevada sage grasshopper
Melanoplus sanguinipes	Migratory grasshopper
Mermiria bivittata	Two-striped mermiria grasshopper
Oedaleonotus enigma	Valley grasshopper
Phoetaliotes nebrascensis	Large-headed grasshopper
Pseudochorthippus curtipennis	Marsh meadow grasshopper
Psoloessa delicatula	Brown-spotted range grasshopper
Trachyrhachys kiowa	Kiowa grasshopper
Trimerotropis pallidipennis	Pallid-winged grasshopper
Xanthippus corallipes	Red-shanked grasshopper

Species of management concern

California is home to over 200 grasshopper species, but only a small number pose serious threats to gardens. Among the most common and damaging are the devastating grasshopper (Melanoplus devastator) and the valley grasshopper (Oedaleonotus enigma), both known for their wide distribution and destructive feeding habits. M. devastator is consistently found on rangelands in California’s coastal and Sierra Nevada foothills, varying in size from year to year. When their numbers surge to outbreak levels, they can cause substantial damage to the land. As in other rangeland ecosystems, grasshopper communities in California’s foothills are made up of multiple species. M. devastator is often the most abundant, coexisting with species like O. enigma, the clear-winged grasshopper (Camnula pellucida), Dissosteira pictipennis, and others. In areas less suited to the devastating grasshopper, different species become dominant. For example, C. pellucida is typically most common in montane grasslands, while O. enigma tends to dominate in valley and lower foothill areas. Although M. devastator sometimes migrate into crop fields in these lower areas, they do not establish long-term populations there, and the reason remains unclear.

View U.S. Grasshopper Forecast Hazard Maps

Grasshopper management

Poison baits, barriers, sacking (covering trees or vines), furrowing, plowing, burning breeding grounds, and running through fields to scare winged grasshoppers are all examples of recommended management practices in the 1900s.

"Hopper-dozer" used in 1900s to trap grasshoppers

Smudge fires along the windward edge of fields in need of protection was a popular means of control. These fires were intended to produce thick smoke, which would then be directed across the fields to form a protective barrier. To enhance the density of the smoke, small amounts of sulfur were periodically added to the burning piles. Another notable method was using the 'hopper-dozer' which was considered effective for controlling grasshoppers on breeding grounds in the early 1900s. The device consisted of shallow galvanized iron pans filled with crude oil, which was kept in place by a cloth layer, to prevent it from spilling. Positioned about a foot in front of the pans was a light pole, which dragged along the ground to scare the grasshoppers. As the grasshoppers jumped to avoid the pole, they would land in the pans, becoming coated with oil. Although many grasshoppers would manage to leap out of the pans, the oil typically caused their death. A large number would perish in the pans themselves. It was found to be most effective when several hopper-dozers were used in succession. Under favorable conditions, a single pass could eliminate a significant portion of the grasshopper population, though the operation was often repeated for more thorough control.

Men with hoes clearing a line through the grass before starting a fire.

Today in California, grasshopper management is primarily overseen by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), which works alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to monitor and control grasshopper populations. They collaborate on pest management strategies to prevent outbreaks that could damage crops and rangeland. Additionally, county agricultural commissioners may also be involved in local monitoring and management efforts, often in partnership with landowners and farmers. Efforts include monitoring grasshopper populations, conducting surveys, and implementing control measures such as the use of pesticides in the form of baits and sprays, and other integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to mitigate the impact on agriculture and ecosystems. Local agricultural extension offices and researchers from universities, such as the University of California, also play a role in grasshopper research and providing advice on effective management practices.

Select photos from California

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Outbreaks

New York Times 1877, Grasshoppers in California "too late to harm wheat".

The devastating grasshopper, M. devastator has a history of troubling agriculture in California. In 1722 there are records from Spanish settlers of damage caused by this species. In 1855 severe damage occurred in California, Oregon, and Washington through the migration of this grasshopper. For a list of orthoptera outbreaks see page 19 and 20 of Woodworth 1902.

The last widespread outbreak occurred between 1955 and 1961, with yearly infestations affecting between 580,000 and 4,523,000 acres. Since that period, outbreaks have remained smaller, impacting fewer than 500,000 acres annually. On June 13, 1957, large numbers of the devastating grasshopper nymphs moved through Alameda and Butte counties in California. Another notable event took place between July 25 and August 8, 1957, when a remarkable adult migration was observed at the California Range Experiment Station in Hopland.

Organizations

Organization name	Acronym	Website	Type	Focus	Focus keywords
California Department of Food and Agriculture	CDFA	https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/	Government	Management, Governance	Management, Grasshoppers, Control
California Farm Bureau		https://www.cfbf.com/	Non-profit Organization	Development, Media	Agricultural development, Advocacy
Cooperative Extension Ventura County		https://ucanr.edu/county-office/cooperative-extension-ventura-county	Government	Education, Research, Monitoring, Management	Extension
National Grasshopper Management Board	NGMB	https://www.sites.google.com/site/ngmborg/home	Non-profit Organization	Governance, Management	Coordination, Natural sciences
Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Suppression Program at the United States Department of Agriculture		https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/grasshopper-mormon-cricket/ct_grasshopper_mormon_cricket	Government	Management, Education, Information Hub	Control, Forecasting, Monitoring
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources		https://ucanr.edu	University	Education, Research, Monitoring, Management	Extension
University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program	UC IPM	https://ipm.ucanr.edu/	University	Education, Research, Monitoring, Management	Extension
University of California, Merced		https://www.ucmerced.edu	University	Management	Control, Research