Grasshopper

What it looks like

You'll see ragged, chewed-up grass blades rather than a specific pattern. It's usually worst along the edges of the lawn closest to open fields or overgrown areas. In bad drought years with big grasshopper numbers, they can eat turf down to the crown.

Often mistaken for: General drought stress or other chewing insect damage

When it shows up in the Triangle

Shows up during hot, dry stretches of summer, and gets worse in drought years.

Where you’ll see it

Home lawns and larger turf areas, especially edges bordering fields or unmowed lots where grasshoppers are breeding.

What you can do

• Keep neighboring field edges, ditches, and overgrown areas mowed to cut down on grasshopper habitat
• Water your lawn during dry spells to help it recover and stay less attractive to hungry grasshoppers
• Watch the edges of your yard closest to open fields, since that's usually where damage starts
• Remember this is typically a border problem, not something that takes over the whole lawn