We’ve had a very active 2022 summer monsoon season! As a result of all of the monsoon moisture we’d had this July and August, (you may have seen more, or less rain, depending on your location) we’re seeing bumper crops of several different insects, but the one we’re getting the most inquiries about are the Pallid-Winged Grasshopper, Trimerotropis pallidipennis. “What are these? They’re everywhere!”
This species of grasshopper does well in much of the United States, including arid regions like ours. The precipitation we’ve received have made conditions favorable for breeding, eggs hatching, and eating.
You’ll find pallid-winged grasshoppers almost anywhere. They blend in with soils, rocks and plants very well. They’re very much at home in vacant fields, and even in parking lots where rain has given weed seeds enough moisture to germinate in pavement cracks. If they sense movement, they may all move at once.
If you’re planning on planting a winter garden, beware. This species will eat almost any vegetation to the stem.
While large swarms are uncommon, after sufficient moisture, millions can be seen. They fly very well, in addition to their jumping activities, and will ruin even large crops in a very short time.
Here is some additional information about Pallid-winged grasshoppers if you’d like to learn more.