Bow-winged grasshopper

Systematic position. The Bow-winged grasshopper (Chorthippus biguttulus) is a member of the order Orthoptera and the family Acrididae. It is a well-known species of short-horned grasshopper, widely distributed across European grasslands, meadows, and agricultural landscapes, where it thrives in warm, dry habitats.

Crops and damage. This species is a generalist feeder that primarily targets Poaceae (grasses). Its preferred crops include wheat, barley, oats, and various forage crops. The insects cause damage by consuming the leaf blades, starting from the edges, which significantly reduces the photosynthetic area of the plants and can lead to severe biomass loss if populations reach high densities.

Biology and life cycle. The Bow-winged grasshopper typically has one generation per year. It overwinters as eggs buried in the soil, usually at a shallow depth of 1–3 cm. Nymphs emerge in the spring once temperatures are sufficiently high. Throughout the summer, they undergo five nymphal stages, feeding voraciously on grasses before reaching the adult stage to reproduce and lay eggs for the following season.

Pest importance. While individual grasshoppers cause minimal damage, large swarms or high localized populations can lead to significant economic impact. Besides direct mechanical leaf destruction, their feeding activity makes plants more susceptible to environmental stress and pathogens, eventually reducing the overall yield quality and quantity in cereal and pasture production.

Control measures. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is essential to control Chorthippus biguttulus effectively. Standard practices include:

• Cultivation techniques like autumn plowing to destroy egg pods located in the soil.
• Weed management in non-crop areas, ditch banks, and field borders to reduce egg-laying sites.
• Regular field monitoring to determine population density.
• Application of chemical insecticides or biological agents if the economic threshold is exceeded, ensuring timing aligns with the early nymphal stages for maximum efficacy.