Richard Zack
Scientists in the Pacific Northwest are bracing for what’s shaping up to be the worse grasshopper outbreak in 30 years.
The USDA found a dramatic increase in the number of grasshopper eggs during surveys last fall. Richard Zack, an associate professor of Entomology at Washington State University, says that when combined with a relatively mild spring, the conditions are perfect for a major infestation.
WSU entomologist Richard Zack comments on the expected grasshopper infestation.
The outbreak is expected to peak in late July and early August as summertime heat dries up open rangeland, while nearby crops are just hitting their stride.
Zack explains the impact grasshoppers and Mormon crickets could have this year.
Federal agents are looking into pesticide options to control the insects.
Last summer, grasshoppers wiped out 7,000 acres of grassland in southeastern Oregon’s high desert. The critical areas projected to be at risk in Washington state are lands that lie in the high desert regions near Othello, Yakima and the Tri-Cities.
