Grasshoppers and ferns are common in many outdoor environments. A frequent question is whether these insects interact with ferns as a food source.
Do Grasshoppers Eat Ferns?
While grasshoppers are generalist herbivores, ferns are not typically a preferred food source. Ferns possess various chemical defenses that make them unpalatable or mildly toxic to many insects. These compounds deter most herbivores, resulting in low rates of insect herbivory on ferns.
Grasshoppers might consume ferns only under specific circumstances. This occurs when preferred food sources are scarce, forcing opportunistic feeding. During large grasshopper outbreaks, less desirable plants like ferns may be damaged. Young, tender fern fronds, which may have lower concentrations of defensive chemicals, could also be more susceptible.
Understanding Grasshopper Diets
Grasshoppers are primarily herbivorous insects that consume a wide variety of plant materials. Their diet largely consists of grasses, which are a fundamental component of their natural feeding habits. They possess specialized chewing mouthparts, including mandibles, that are well-suited for cutting and grinding tough plant tissues.
Beyond grasses, grasshoppers readily feed on broad-leaf plants and various crops. Preferred agricultural targets include young, green plants such as lettuce, carrots, beans, sweet corn, onions, alfalfa, wheat, rye, and barley. As primary consumers, grasshoppers play a role in ecosystems by influencing plant growth and nutrient cycling. They can consume a significant amount of vegetation, sometimes up to half their body weight in a single day. When their preferred food sources become scarce, grasshoppers demonstrate adaptability by consuming alternative, less nutritious materials. This includes moss, fungi, bark, or even the tender leaves and shoots of young trees. This opportunistic feeding behavior allows them to survive in environments where their usual diet is temporarily unavailable.
Recognizing Damage and Simple Solutions
Grasshopper damage on plants typically appears as ragged holes and chewed edges on leaves. They can also strip entire plants of foliage or eat through stems, which may cause branches to break or plants to fall over. Small, brown droppings can often be found on affected plants.
While grasshoppers can damage many garden plants, significant feeding on ferns is uncommon due to their natural defenses. If grasshopper damage is observed, several non-chemical methods can help manage populations:
Encouraging natural predators, such as birds, wasps, ground beetles, robber flies, chickens, or guinea hens, can help control grasshopper numbers.
Maintaining a diverse garden with healthy plants and regularly mowing grassy areas can reduce hiding spots and breeding grounds for grasshoppers.
Physical barriers, such as fine netting draped over vulnerable plants, can effectively exclude grasshoppers.
Planting trap crops like tall grass or alfalfa in a designated area can lure grasshoppers away from more desirable plants.
Natural deterrents like neem oil, which acts as an antifeedant and disrupts grasshopper growth, can be applied to plants.
Garlic spray also functions as a repellent, and dusting plants with diatomaceous earth can help deter them.
For smaller infestations, hand-picking grasshoppers and dropping them into soapy water is a direct removal method.
Fall tilling of soil can also disrupt grasshopper egg pods, reducing populations for the following season.