Grasshoppers et al

[ArronOB]

I’ve been loosing most of my orchid spikes to grasshoppers for a while now. I rarely see them, although I did catch one in action last night. They chew through the orchid spike at just one point, taking out a semicircular cHunk most of the way through, and then move on. This seems very wasteful but I guess it’s an adaptation to feeding on grass stems somehow?

I grow outside or in incomplete shadehouses, so they can come and go as they please.

Anyway, what is the least environmentally destructive way to control them.?

Cheers
Arron

[estación seca]

They're among the most difficult. The only thing that works reliably is screening them out. Poison doesn't work because the plant damage is done and the insect has moved on before the insect becomes ill.

[Ray]

Homemade Hot Pepper Spray Recipe (from an organic gardening site):

Remember to use rubber gloves and caution when handling hot peppers.

• 5-10 Hot Peppers depending on size (from your garden or the market, or substitute powdered cayenne pepper)
• 1 teaspoon pure Soap (dish soap is OK, but not detergent types)
• 1 tablespoon of Vegetable Oil
• 6 or more cloves of Garlic (Optional)
• 1/2 gallon Water, or up to 1 gallon (use 2-3 cups in blender)

Put ingredients in the blender. Add 2-3 cups water. Blend thoroughly until liquefied, adding more water if necessary. Let stand one hour. Liquefy again. Let mixture sit until fumes have settled. Strain (through cheesecloth, coffee filter, paper towel). Dilute with additional water and spray on plants in the evening (using caution at all times when handling the material and during sprayer clean-up). Extra material can be stored in a jar in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

[DeaC]

No lizards or frogs in your area?