Degree-Day Requirements for Eight Economically Important Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Nebraska Using Field Data

Authors

Mathew L. Brust, Chadron State CollegeFollow
William Wyatt Hoback, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Robert J. Wright, University of NebraskaFollow

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in Environmental Entomology 38(5): 1521-1526 (2009). Copyright 2009 Entomological Society of America. Used by permission.

Abstract

The timing of application for the management of rangeland grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) is critical, especially as insecticides become more specialized and the use of Insect Growth Regulators becomes more widespread. The general seasonal occurrence of adults of many grasshopper species has been well documented; however, their appearance varies widely between years. We analyzed sweep samples collected over the western two thirds of Nebraska from a 3-yr period and noted the occurrence of adults by region for eight species of rangeland grasshoppers. We analyzed occurrence based on degree-day accumulations for the region and developed estimates of degree-day requirements for these species. Because these grasshopper species are common rangeland pests, degree-day requirements to reach adulthood should improve the effectiveness of grasshopper treatment programs over a large geographic area.