Why grasshoppers love droughts

Why grasshoppers LOVE droughts Drought-like conditions don't just lead to wildfires – they're also perfect for grasshoppers. While not all grasshoppers are agricultural pests, some have a voracious appetite for the same crops humans grow. Biologist Rosa da Silva explains how the tiny insect can beçome a big problem. Adults are only 1-1.5 inches long, but can eat 100mg of dry plant material per day. Combined with a drought, this can be devastating for farmers. In normal conditions, predators like wasps and microorganisms like fungi help keep grasshopper populations in check by killing both young and adult insects. Warm, dry conditions help accelerate grasshopper reproduction: the insect can go from egg to adult in just 4-6 weeks. Females lay egg pods with up to 100 eggs per pod near potential food sources, which include cereals, grasses and other crops. McMaster University Droughts aren't good for fungi, which are marginalized by the heat and lack of moisture, allowing grasshoppers to flourish.