Uninvited visitors like lice tend to infest Baobabs – particularly when they are kept outdoors. There are several ways to cope with these little “pests”. I have not yet tested some of the methods listed below – but to me they sound worthwhile to be shared.
A very simple way to ward off lice is to treat the affected Baobab with a targeted jet of water. If repeated several times it may help to get rid of the lice.
“Useful” insects can be exposed at or near the Baobabs. Among the useful insects are, for example, earwigs, ladybugs and lacewings. In order to convince earwigs to stay next to the Baobabs put some wood-wool in a flower pot and position it near the infested plant.
Or place the afflicted Baobab between plants with a high percentage of essential oils such as lavender. With the strong smell of the essential oils pests are held at bay. Savory is also said to be very helpful.
Another natural method used is nettle extract. Take one kilogram of nettle leaves and soak them for one day in 10 liters of water. The nettles release their toxins into the water. Take the mixture and spray – undiluted – onto the Baobab leaves. The manure left from the nettles can be used as fertilizer for the Baobabs or other plants (please keep in mind that Baobabs do not really need huge amounts of fertilizer…). The manure strengthens the plants and prevents further infestation by pests. After a week of applying the nettle extract the lice should be gone. I have not tried the nettle method myself yet.
Soft soap (without perfume) is another agent helpful in fighting lice on Baobabs. Dissolve one tablespoon of soap in one liter of water and apply to the affected plants. Instead of soap you could use dish-washing soap. In order to enhance the effect – add one tablespoon of alcohol. However, this mixture could leave brown spots on the leaves. I have not tested this method myself so far.
And one could apply the usual chemical agents found at hardware stores or chemists or nurseries on the affected baobabs. Most are poisons that act in a “systemic” way. The plants absorb the applied toxin and spread it through their system. Lice sitting on the leaves and stems feeding on the plants automatically absorb the toxines, too.
The methods listed above are best applied as soon as lice are spotted on Baobabs in order to prevent the spreading of them. Spraying Baobabs is done best early in the mornings or in the evenings and if possible under stable weather conditions without wind.
The majestic baobab tree, with its massive trunk and sprawling canopy, is an iconic part of the African landscape. But these trees often face infestations from swarms of voracious grasshoppers that can quickly defoliate them. Getting rid of grasshoppers on baobab trees requires an integrated pest management approach using multiple tactics.
Understand the Threat Posed by Grasshoppers
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Grasshoppers are part of the insect order Orthoptera and can be green, brown or gray. There are over 11,000 species worldwide.
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Nymphs and adults have chewing mouthparts and primarily feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and stems.
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An adult grasshopper can consume over half its body weight in plant matter daily.
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Grasshoppers are hemimetabolous insects, meaning they transition through egg, nymph and adult stages without a pupal stage.
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Infestations often start in spring when eggs from the previous season begin hatching. Populations peak in mid to late summer.
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Severe grasshopper feeding can defoliate trees, leaving them stressed and vulnerable to disease. It can also impact fruit production.
Physical Barriers
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Wrap tree trunks with a sticky band or double-sided tape to stop grasshoppers from climbing the tree.
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Attach tightly woven mesh netting or row covers around susceptible trees to create a physical barrier.
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Clear vegetation away from the base of trees to eliminate hiding spots and access points.
Natural Predators
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Attract insect predators like praying mantises, lacewings, ladybugs and ground beetles to your property.
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Plant nectar-rich flowers to draw in predatory wasps that feed on grasshopper nymphs.
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Construct bird houses and provide water to attract insect-eating birds. Chickens, guinea fowl and many songbirds prey on grasshoppers.
Botanical Repellents
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Spray trees with neem oil, which has an antifeedant effect on grasshoppers. It is biodegradable and non-toxic.
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Mix garlic powder with water and a bit of mild soap to create a natural repellent spray. The sulfur compounds in garlic deter feeding.
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Spray trees with kaolin clay suspensions, which form a physical barrier against feeding. The clay is safe for humans and pets.
Biological Controls
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Release predatory nematodes like Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp. which invade and kill grasshopper nymphs.
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Apply Nosema locustae, a microsporidian protozoan parasite, near trees as bait. It is toxic to grasshoppers but harmless to vertebrates.
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Introduce beauveria bassiana, a fungal pathogen that kills grasshoppers within 4-10 days of infection. It persists in soils to infect future generations.
Habitat Modification
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Remove weeds like pigweed, lambsquarters, bindweed and marestail that attract grasshoppers.
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Allow areas around trees to dry out to deter egg-laying females, who prefer moist soil. Mulch can help.
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Plant grasses away from trees as trap crops that lure grasshoppers away.
Physical Destruction
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Handpick nymphs and drop them into containers of soapy water which suffocates them.
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For isolated trees, knock hoppers off foliage into tarps and destroy them.
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Use sticky traps baited with grasshopper pheromones to capture and kill adults.
Chemical Control
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When other methods fail, use insecticides derived from neem oil, pyrethrins or kaolin clay as a last resort.
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Never apply non-specific chemicals like carbaryl or malathion which also kill beneficial insects.
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Always follow label directions carefully.
Maintain Vigilance
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Monitor trees weekly for grasshopper activity and control nymphs before they mature and reproduce.
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Look for signs like chewed leaves, branch dieback and honeydew secretions.
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Keep records to identify seasonal patterns and trouble spots on your property.
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Remove egg masses in fall and winter to reduce next year’s population.
By integrating multiple tactics that deter, repel and eliminate grasshoppers, you can protect your baobab trees from defoliation without using harmful chemicals. Consistent monitoring and early intervention are key to successful grasshopper management. With a thoughtful IPM plan, your majestic baobabs can thrive grasshopper-free.
Frequency of Entities:
baobab tree: 14
grasshopper: 22
get rid of: 5
infestation: 3
nymph: 4
Video: Grow Baobabs from seeds
To listen klick on photograph and follow the menu 🙂
Video: “Baobabs – a little introduction”
A short video introduction with basic information about Baobabs. To watch click on the photo, please.
How to Manage Grasshoppers in Your Garden
FAQ
What is the quickest way to get rid of grasshoppers?
Do coffee grounds keep grasshoppers away?
How do you get rid of grasshoppers in a vegetable garden?
Knock the grasshoppers off the plants and into a bucket of soapy water, where they’ll drown. You can also spray the solution directly on the pests. For the recipe, mix 4 tablespoons of liquid soap with a gallon of water. Dawn dish soap can work; however, use organic soaps for organic vegetable gardens.
Do grasshoppers damage plants?
The damage that grasshoppers do to plants is similar to other insects. The first signs of plant damage could be holes in plant leaves and gnawed leaf edges. If their numbers are large, grasshoppers can strip plants, shrubs, and even trees of vegetation.
Can you kill grasshoppers naturally?
Thankfully, there are effective ways to kill grasshoppers in your garden naturally. Grasshoppers are a group of plant-eating insects in the suborder Caelifera. There are around 600 species of grasshoppers in the U.S. and 30 that cause significant damage to crops and plants.
How do you protect plants from Grasshoppers?
One IPM strategy is to use physical barriers to protect plants from grasshoppers. You can drape nets or rows—lightweight fabric covers—over plants in your garden to ward off hungry grasshoppers. Ensure the area around the bottom is tight so grasshoppers can’t sneak under the barrier to access plants.