Locus/grass-hopper problem!

[kvan64]

I notice that there are heaps of little grass hoppers in my area. I thought they wouldn't touch the hard leaves of my English Oak but I was wrong. In only two weeks not paying attention. 1/3 of the leaves got eaten badly. Besides wacking them with the thongs, is there any other way???

[kvan64]

Should I defoliage it? Around this time of the year?

[Jamie]

Should I defoliage it? Around this time of the year?

it looks as if you dont have to with the way the grass hoppers are going at it

[Glenda]

I am having a problem with hoppers on my elm. I got some hopper baits from the nursery. You spread them on the soil. Put them out last Sunday, and have had no hoppers all week, but found another one on the elm today, but all the baits were gone, so I have put some more out. They seem to work.

[kvan64]

Hahaha, ya right there mate. They are doing exactly that. I just thought that they would move on if there is no more favourite leaves for them to eat. I also wanted to see the branch structure after one growing season. Hangon, can't remember when was the time you helped me carving this stump. Maybe it's only about 6 months yet.

[kvan64]

I am having a problem with hoppers on my elm. I got some hopper baits from the nursery. You spread them on the soil. Put them out last Sunday, and have had no hoppers all week, but found another one on the elm today, but all the baits were gone, so I have put some more out. They seem to work.

Wow, grasshopper bait. I've learned it first time today. I wonder if Bunnings has it? Thanks for the info.

[Watto]

I couldn't recommend defoliating Oaks, they just don't like it. Best to just perservere with what is left of the leaves until Autumn. Oaks appear to be particually difficult in respect to damage by pests and IMHO prevention is the key, but they will be OK and next year they will "begin again" as decidious trees do.

[Mojo Moyogi]

kvan, you would be better off with your trees up of the ground. You will have a lot less trouble with bugs with your trees on benches.

Cheers
MM

[Naym]

kvan, you would be better off with your trees up of the ground. You will have a lot less trouble with bugs with your trees on benches.

Cheers
MM

I wish! See my last post in my lierati entry, all my trees are on benches and many of the were hit by grasshoppers this year, big ones 40mm long. They can do a lot of damage in only one day. I have trouble with spiders and caterpillars every year as well.

Kvan: I've found a stick works better than a thong. It may seem tedious but I have found the best way is to do what you are doing and catch them in the act. I have not found baits to be useful and I only spray if things are out of control because I find that sprays always have a side effect. If nothing else I spend more time looking at my trees, but I do get worried when I go away in the growth seasons.

P.S [off topic] Do you get white mildew on your oaks? Have you found a way to control it?

[kvan64]

Naym, I haven't got mildew on them yet. As to the locusts, I now catch them by hands and feed them to the chicken

[Jamie]

thats the way DK !!! let the chook into ya bonsai yard! surely the chook cant do to much damage ................then again just catch them and feed, i was just picture a chook with its head cut off running round, would be the same after a grass hopper


jamie

[Jan]

I keep my bonsai in a shade house with 50% shade cloth on it. They get plenty of sun without getting fried on seriously hot days and it keeps off the grasshoppers (we currently have wingless grasshoppers in plague proportions eating everything green, except the bonsai!), heavy snow, strong winds etc.

Try a physical barrier like shadecloth if you have the space, maybe just as a temporary blanket to keep the hoppers off.

Jan

[kvan64]

Thanks for help and suggestions guys. I just found that there is another way to deal with grass hoppers. Just ...shoot them

[Chris]

good thread and advice thanks guys