Grasshoppers

 Is there anything I can put on my garden to deter or kill grasshoppers,
without hurting my ladybugs? I am starting to see hundreds of small
grasshoppers, and I know they will grow up to be big ones and destroy my
plants! But I have so many ladybugs in the garden which are very beneficial,
so I don't want to kill them too! Any ideas?

Thanks!
Angie

 opined:


This is the perfect time to use a biological control called Nosema locustaea.
It is sold under the brand name of Nolo Bait.  It is a toxin carried in a soy
and/or wheat substrate which grasshoppers love.  They eat it and die.  Since
they are also cannibals, the larger hoppers which eat the dead ones also get
infected.  It is very specific to grasshoppers.  The time you put it out is when
you start to see they nymphs.  One container may cost up to 20 dollars, but it
is enough for an acre.

Victoria


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A microbial insecticide called Nosema locustae is sold under various trade
names for grasshopper control. This is a protozoan disease that occurs
naturally among grasshoppers and has been commercialized by mass production
under laboratory conditions. It does not affect other, beneficial, insects in
your garden.
sed5555

 On 03 Jun 2004 04:25:01 GMT, sed5555@aol.com (Sed5555) opined:


And I will add it is usually only effective when you first start to see the
nymphs.


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 On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 01:18:16 -0500, "junkyardcat"


Nosema Iocustae

https://w108.webminders.com/buglogical/catalog.asp?action=showCatalog&typeNumber&&sectionNumberB


It claims up to 90% effective but .. that would probably be expecting
a bit much.  


Another page that just has some useful info.. and mentions nosema
locustae says 50%.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072510846/student_view0/biological_controls.html