# Grasshopper

> Plant-chewing insects of the family Acrididae, often Melanoplus species in North America, that strip leaves of outdoor cannabis in dry summers.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/grasshopper.html
- Also written: grasshoppers, Melanoplus, Acrididae, locust
- Glossary category: Pests and diseases · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Grasshoppers are chewing insects of the family Acrididae with large hind legs for jumping. In North America the damaging species are mostly *Melanoplus* spp. They hatch in spring from egg pods laid in undisturbed soil and feed through summer. Outbreaks follow warm, dry years.

## In practice

Damage on outdoor cannabis is ragged holes and missing leaf margins, sometimes stripped [seedlings](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/seedling.md). Grasshoppers move in from field edges, ditches and rangeland, so the edge rows suffer first. For a small grow, hand-picking in cool mornings when they are sluggish, fine netting, and keeping grass mowed near the garden are practical. Poultry and wild birds take many. On large areas, baits based on the microsporidian *Nosema locustae* (now often named *Paranosema locustae*) are a biological option aimed at young nymphs. Indoor growers can ignore them. Check what is registered for cannabis locally.

## Don't confuse with

- **Caterpillar damage**: similar holes, but look for [frass](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/frass.md) and larvae on the plant.
- **Leafhoppers**: tiny sap feeders that jump but do not chew holes.
- **Hail damage**: shredded leaves across the whole crop at once.

## Related terms

[Caterpillar](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/caterpillar.md), [Leafhopper](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/leafhopper.md), [Scouting](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/scouting.md)

## Sources

1. Cranshaw, W. Hemp pests (CSU, 2020). https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/InsectInformation/Talks2020/HempPests.pdf