Controlling grasshoppers

Q.  There are black grasshoppers everywhere in my yard. Why are there so many? What can I do to control them?

A.  These are the immature lubber grasshoppers. They hatch in late spring from eggs that were laid in the soil the previous fall. They will mature into the large multicolored grasshoppers that are commonly seen in the fall. Once grown only physical control will kill them.

Q.  I have a potted plant that is getting spots underneath its leaves. I think these spots might be insect eggs. It is hard to spray under the leaves. What can I do?

 A.  Sprays will not kill insect eggs. You have to wait for the eggs to hatch. You can try wiping the eggs from the leaf or simply remove the infected leaf.