Keeping Locusts Away From Your Crops

Locusts, or grasshoppers, can cause havoc on outdoor crops. Voracious eaters, locusts can also fly, which makes their range of destruction that much more.

Locusts and grasshoppers are especially active in the summer season. When you are getting ready to harvest your summer or fall crops, you will want them to be safe from locusts.

The first thing you can do when dealing with locusts is to call an experienced pest control company. Our team will have experience with ridding locusts from your crops.

Things To Do To Prevent Locusts

One of the best things that you can do to prevent locusts is to till the soil. Females lay their eggs on the ground. By regularly tilling it, you are killing the eggs so they will not be able to reproduce.

Around September, till the ground. This discourages them, and they will find somewhere else to nest. Tilling the soil also has bonuses: it turns the grass, and the other ground cover will compost.

All-Purpose Flour

Who knew flour wasn't just for the kitchen?  If a locust tries to eat the flour, then it will turn sticky. This can gum up their mouths and they won't be able to eat.

Sprinkle the flour on the leaves of the plant that you want to protect. The locusts will not be able to eat them, and it is a non-toxic alternative.

Birds

Chickens will hunt and eat locusts. As an added bonus, they will lay eggs for you to eat. See what the local permits say about keeping chickens as pets. Create careful fences for them, and let them roam where your crops are.

Frogs

Does your home have a pond? Consider adding frogs to it. Frogs snack on insects, including locusts.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is a safe, all-natural oil that has multiple uses. If you haven't heard of it, research it. As well as being a beneficial insecticide, you can also use it in the home for cleaning.

Garlic or Hot Pepper Spray

The locust won't like the taste of the garlic or hot pepper spray. You can spray it on the leaves so they don't get eaten.

Barrier Plants

While not a first line of defense, barrier plants may be able to help you. Calendula and horehound can be useful to deter locusts. 

If you need assistance with getting locusts out of your garden, then contact our company today.  Pest Control Services will be happy to help.