Short Horned Grasshopper
The short-horned grasshopper (Family: Acrididae) is a common and destructive pest of vegetable gardens across South Africa. These insects are voracious feeders, consuming large quantities of foliage and causing significant damage to crops like Swiss chard, spinach, beans, and brassicas. Their powerful hind legs allow them to jump long distances, making them difficult to catch. They are most active during the warmer months and can be found hiding in mulch, under leaves, and in tall grass. Understanding their life cycle, feeding habits, and management is essential for protecting garden crops.
Written by Kutlwano Mokoena
Founder of Evergreen Hideout Agricultural Services (NPO: 2024 / 380375 / 07). Specialist in beneficial insect identification and ecological gardening.
Quick Diagnostic Summary
Irregular holes in leaves, often large and jagged. Complete defoliation of young seedlings is possible in severe infestations.
Insects with powerful hind legs for jumping. They are often seen hopping away when disturbed, especially from mulch and leaf litter.
🦗 First Encounter: The Hidden Destroyers
For weeks, I kept wondering what was eating my Swiss chard spinach leaves. Every time I arrived at the garden, I found new holes in the leaves. I assumed it must be birds — they're always around, pecking at things. But the damage didn't look like bird damage. It looked like something was chewing.
I knew that grasshoppers and locusts fed on leaves, but I wasn't thinking about them. These small insects seemed too insignificant to cause so much damage. But I was wrong. I've been missing weeks of harvest because of them — I can't eat spinach that's been eaten by grasshoppers. Instead, I'm left throwing the leaves away into my compost pile.
What I observed: The damage was unmistakable — large, irregular holes chewed through the leaves. The edges were rough and jagged, not smooth like caterpillar damage. I started looking more closely, and then I saw them — grasshoppers, hiding in the mulch and under the leaves.
🦗 Personal Connection: This isn't my first battle with grasshoppers. They've caused me so many problems for many years. I remember in the Alkemetic Vegetation Farm days, they used to hide inside our mulch. When we approached for a harvest, many of them would pop out and start hopping away in packs. It was frustrating — and it still is.
They've caused me to lose so much produce over the years. I can't eat leaves that have been chewed by them. Instead, I'm left throwing them into the compost pile, watching my hard work go to waste.
This sighting was significant for three reasons:
- Discovery of a persistent pest: I realized that grasshoppers have been a problem for years, but I had underestimated their impact. They are not just occasional visitors — they are a consistent threat.
- Confirmation of damage source: The holes in the spinach weren't caused by birds. They were caused by grasshoppers hiding in the mulch and feeding at night.
- Lesson in vigilance: I learned that pests are often hiding in plain sight. By checking more carefully and understanding their behavior, I can take action to protect my crops.
📍 Location: Raikana Primary School, Soshanguve, Pretoria
📅 Date: July 2026
🌤️ Conditions: Warm, approaching spring
🌱 Encounter context: Repeated damage to Swiss chard leaves; discovered grasshoppers hiding in mulch and under leaves
Identification: The Jumping Pest
Short-horned grasshoppers are easily identified by their powerful hind legs, which are adapted for jumping, and their short antennae (hence the name). They come in a variety of colors, including green, brown, and gray.
Key identification features:
- Size: 10–30mm in length, depending on the species and age.
- Body: Robust, with a large head and chewing mouthparts.
- Wings: Most species have fully developed wings and can fly short distances.
- Color: Variable — green, brown, or gray, often matching their surroundings.
- Behavior: They are most active during the day and are often seen hopping away when disturbed.
- Hiding spots: They hide in mulch, under leaves, and in tall grass during the hottest part of the day.
Life Cycle and Feeding Habits
Grasshoppers undergo incomplete metamorphosis — eggs hatch into nymphs that resemble small adults, growing through several molts before reaching maturity.
- Eggs: Laid in the soil in pods during late summer and autumn. They overwinter and hatch in spring.
- Nymphs: Small, wingless versions of adults. They feed on tender leaves and grow rapidly.
- Adults: Fully winged and capable of flight. They are voracious feeders and can cause significant damage.
- Feeding: They feed on a wide range of plants, including Swiss chard, spinach, beans, brassicas, and grasses.
Damage and Economic Impact
Grasshoppers cause direct damage by feeding on leaves, stems, and developing pods:
- Direct damage: Large, irregular holes in leaves. Young seedlings can be completely defoliated.
- Yield loss: Severe infestations can result in significant yield loss, especially for leafy greens and beans.
- Quality loss: Damaged leaves are often unsellable and unmarketable — they must be removed and composted.
- Persistence: Grasshoppers are mobile and can quickly move between crops, making them difficult to control.
Organic Management Strategies
Managing grasshoppers requires a combination of cultural practices, physical barriers, and biological controls:
- Regular monitoring: Inspect plants regularly, especially early in the morning when grasshoppers are less active.
- Hand removal: Catch and remove grasshoppers when populations are small. Use a net or jar.
- Mulch management: Grasshoppers hide in mulch. Keep mulch away from plant bases and turn it regularly to expose hiding insects.
- Floating row covers: Cover young plants with row covers to prevent grasshoppers from accessing them.
- Companion planting: Plant strong-smelling herbs like mint, basil, or garlic near vulnerable crops to deter grasshoppers.
- Biological control: Encourage natural predators such as birds, spiders, and parasitic flies.
- Neem oil: Apply neem oil spray to deter feeding and disrupt growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do grasshoppers eat?
A: Grasshoppers feed on a wide range of plants, including Swiss chard, spinach, beans, brassicas, and grasses. They are voracious feeders and can consume large amounts of foliage.
Q: How do I know if I have a grasshopper problem?
A: Look for large, irregular holes in leaves. Check under mulch and plant debris for hiding insects. You may also see them hopping away when disturbed.
Q: Can I eat spinach that has been damaged by grasshoppers?
A: It's best to avoid eating damaged leaves. The holes and chewing damage can introduce pathogens, and the leaves may have been exposed to grasshopper droppings.
Q: How can I control grasshoppers without chemicals?
A: Use floating row covers, hand removal, mulching (turn it regularly), companion planting, and encourage natural predators like birds.
Q: Why do grasshoppers hide in mulch?
A: Mulch provides shelter from heat and predators. Grasshoppers hide in mulch during the hottest part of the day and emerge to feed in the early morning and late afternoon.
📚 Related Resources
- Real Grow Series: Follow the full journey of building a food-producing garden from scratch — Start here
- Swiss Chard Update: Mid-season growth audit and harvesting
- Mulch Management: Best practices for using mulch in the garden
- Organic Pest Management: Non-chemical solutions for common garden pests
Conclusion: The Hidden Hopper
The short-horned grasshopper is a persistent and destructive pest that has caused me years of frustration — from Alkemetic Vegetation Farm to Raikana Primary School. They hide in mulch, jump away in packs, and chew through leaves, leaving me with damaged harvests and wasted produce.
But I've learned that with vigilance, observation, and consistent management, I can reduce their impact. Floating row covers, regular monitoring, and encouraging natural predators are all part of the solution.
They've caused me to lose so much over the years — but they've also taught me to be more observant, more patient, and more determined. That's what gardening is all about.
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