Neem Oil & Grasshopper Control

Grasshopper Life Stages

• Adult grasshoppers deposit egg pods 1/2 inch to 2 inches below the soil surface from midsummer through fall. Each pod contains 20 to 120 eggs that hatch in the spring and summer. The grasshopper nymphs are smaller versions of adult grasshoppers and have wing pads that develop into wings. After 40 to 60 days, the nymphs become adult grasshoppers, which are responsible for the crop and plant damage. Neem oil-based insecticides are most effective on grasshoppers during the nymph stage, according to Texas Agrilife Extension.

How Neem Oil Controls Grasshoppers

• After you spray plant leaves with neem-based insecticide, grasshoppers eat the neem as they feed on the plant. Neem oil contains the natural insecticide azadirachtin, which reduces insect feeding and prevents immature insects from maturing into adults and laying eggs. Because grasshopper nymphs already look like adult grasshoppers and do not go through a complete metamorphosis, neem is more effective as a feeding deterrent than as a growth regulator on grasshoppers.

Application Instructions

• To prepare a spray for grasshopper control, mix 6 tablespoons of neem-based insecticide in 1 gallon of water. As soon as you observe grasshoppers nymphs in the spring and summer, apply a fine neem mist to foliage until the liquid runs off the leaves. To prevent leaf damage, spray early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Neem dries and breaks down quickly on plant leaves, so you may have to repeat the application three or four times every seven to 10 days for effective control.

Considerations for Safe Use

• Although neem oil is a natural, plant-based insecticide, you should read and follow label precautions for this product. Keep children and pets away from neem-treated plants until the liquid dries. Wear gloves when handling neem oil, and do not swallow or inhale neem, which can irritate the skin and stomach. The neem component azadirachtin is toxic to fish and other aquatic animals, so you should not spray it into or near ponds, streams or other bodies of water. You can store neem oil in a dry place away from direct sunlight, at temperatures between 50 degrees and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.