Grasshoppers can chew through a vegetable patch faster than you’d think, and once they settle in, the damage compounds. A targeted control plan keeps the population in check before plants get stripped. This list rounds up ten grasshopper killers suited to small gardens, large yards, and everything between, so you spend less time defending seedlings and more time enjoying the growing season.
A Snapshot Of The Selections
RobiGuard Diatomaceous Earth & Peppermint Pest Control 1 lb
Agrisel Bifenthrin Pro 7.9 Insecticide
Sevin Garden Perimeter Insect Killer Granules II
Southern Ag Mole Cricket Bait 5% Carbaryl 3.6 lb
Neudorff Outdoor Multi-Pest Bait 1 lb
Eco-Bran Broad Spectrum Grasshopper & Cricket Bait 2 lbs
Bonide Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer 5 lb
Eco-Bran Broad Spectrum Grasshopper & Cricket Bait 7.5 lbs
Eco Bran Grasshopper Bait 44 lb by Peacock
Eco Bran Grasshopper Bait 2 lb
The Picks, Examined More Closely
RobiGuard pairs food-grade diatomaceous earth, a fine powder made from fossilized algae that damages insect exoskeletons on contact, with peppermint oil as a scent-based deterrent. The combination targets grasshoppers along with ants, roaches, fleas, silverfish, and bedbugs, which makes the one-pound pouch useful around sheds, patios, and garden borders.
For most backyards where kids and pets roam, the appeal is a low-toxicity approach. You dust it along thresholds, foundation lines, and the edges of vegetable beds. In our view, this works best as a supporting player rather than the primary grasshopper control, since heavy infestations may call for a more aggressive bait or spray.
A Strong Showing
- Food-grade diatomaceous earth, listed as safe around children and pets when applied as directed
- Peppermint oil adds a repellent layer, masking the scent cues grasshoppers follow toward plants
- Covers a wide pest list, so the same jar pulls double duty on ants, fleas, and silverfish
- Powder form spreads into cracks, gaps, and along foundation perimeters with a simple duster
Things To Consider
- Needs dry conditions to stay effective; rain or heavy dew washes the powder away and forces reapplication
- One pound covers modest ground, so larger properties may require multiple bags for full coverage
Who It Suits Best
Suburban households with pets and small garden beds who prefer a low-toxicity routine over stronger chemical options.
Consider Something Else When
You face heavy grasshopper swarms in open acreage, where the larger Eco Bran Grasshopper Bait 44 lb by Peacock covers more ground per application.
Agrisel’s Bifenthrin Pro 7.9 is a liquid concentrate built for serious perimeter and lawn work. Bifenthrin is a synthetic pyrethroid (a class of insecticides modeled on natural chrysanthemum compounds) that attacks the nervous system of insects on contact and through residue. The concentrate is mixed with water and applied with a pump or hose-end sprayer, so a small bottle stretches across a wide yard.
Compared to the RobiGuard powder covered earlier, this is the heavier hitter. You get broad-spectrum control covering ants, fleas, spiders, mole crickets, and grasshoppers across lawns, ornamentals, and agricultural settings. For most property owners managing a half-acre or more, the trade-off is chemical strength in exchange for fewer repeat applications.
Real-World Strengths
- Concentrate format dilutes to a custom strength, letting you match the application to the pest pressure
- Broad pest list covers grasshoppers, mole crickets, ants, and spiders from a single mix
- Spray application reaches foliage, fences, and lawn surfaces that granular baits miss
Worth Noting
- Concentrate handling requires gloves and careful measuring; not a casual grab-and-go treatment
- Re-entry period and pet access depend on drying time, which means planning around kids and animals
- Not suited for vegetable gardens close to harvest, since pyrethroid residues raise more concern on edible crops
Made For
Experienced homeowners managing larger lawns, fence lines, or ornamental beds who already own sprayer equipment.
Look Elsewhere When
You garden with kids and edibles nearby, where the organic Neudorff Outdoor Multi-Pest Bait 1 lb fits a gentler routine.
Sevin’s perimeter granules are built for the spreader-and-go crowd. The formula uses zeta-cypermethrin (a fast-acting pyrethroid similar in family to bifenthrin) and the granular carrier makes it simple to broadcast along fence lines, foundations, and garden edges with a rotary spreader or a hand scoop.
Where the Agrisel concentrate demands sprayer setup, this one just needs dry ground and a steady walking pace. The trade-off shows up in coverage shape: granules sit where they land, so dense foliage and tall grass benefit from a quick pre-mow. The package claims roughly three months of control per application, which lines up well with peak grasshopper season in most regions.
Strong Points
- Spreader-friendly application cuts setup time way down compared to liquid concentrates
- Granular form reaches into soil cracks and low vegetation where grasshoppers rest during heat
- Long residual window means fewer re-treatments across a single growing season
- Targets grasshoppers alongside beetles, earwigs, and other perimeter crawlers
Trade Offs
- Rainfall shortly after application can wash granules off the treatment zone and shorten effectiveness
- Not designed for direct application on vegetable foliage, so edible gardens need buffer space
Best Suited To
Homeowners who want a once-per-season barrier along the yard’s edge without mixing or spraying.
Skip It When
Your grasshopper problem lives deep inside a vegetable bed, where the Neudorff Outdoor Multi-Pest Bait 1 lb handles in-garden use more cleanly.
Southern Ag’s bait is a wheat-bran carrier loaded with carbaryl (a carbamate insecticide that disrupts the nervous system once ingested). Despite the “mole cricket” name, the label also covers cutworms, armyworms, field crickets, grasshoppers, and sowbugs, which makes the 3.6-pound bag a flexible tool for mixed-pest lawns.
Unlike the perimeter granules from Sevin, this is a true bait: grasshoppers eat it, then die. That changes the placement strategy, since you want it where pests feed, not just at the property line. You may find the smaller bag size suits suburban lots while leaving enough in the bag for one or two follow-up applications.
Everyday Wins
- Carbaryl acts through ingestion, so the bait works on grasshoppers that avoid treated surfaces
- Compatible with lawns, ornamentals, and vegetable crops when applied according to label timing
- Targets multiple pests at once, so mole cricket and grasshopper issues resolve in a single treatment pass
- Granular form spreads with a hand shaker for tight, targeted placement
Points To Note
- Carbaryl carries stricter label rules than organic baits, so reading the full label before use matters
- Bait loses appeal once wet, so apply on dry days and avoid irrigating immediately afterward
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Southern lawn owners fighting mole crickets and grasshoppers in the same season, with enough yard to justify a 3.6-pound bag.
Reach For A Different Pick When
You want organic certification for an edible garden, where the Neudorff Outdoor Multi-Pest Bait 1 lb covers earwigs, cutworms, and slugs on approved-organic terms.
Neudorff’s bait is built for organic gardening, with an iron-phosphate-based formula that targets slugs, snails, earwigs, cutworms, sowbugs, pillbugs, crickets, and most ant species. The active ingredient works by disrupting feeding and metabolism, and the bait holds effectiveness for up to four weeks after application, depending on weather.
Where the Southern Ag carbaryl bait carries more aggressive chemistry, this one trades raw knockdown for organic approval. The trade-off is that grasshoppers fall outside the label’s primary target list, so it works best as a companion treatment rather than a stand-alone grasshopper fix in heavy infestations.
Well-Handled Touches
- Organic-gardening approval makes it appropriate near edible crops and certified-organic plots
- Four-week residual window means a single application covers most of a typical pest cycle
- Targets a wide crawler list in one bag, simplifying shopping for mixed infestations
- One-pound size is approachable for first-timers who want to test a small area first
Some Limits To Know
- Grasshoppers are not the primary target, so pressure may outpace the formula’s reach
- Wet conditions shorten residual effectiveness, requiring reapplication after storms
The Right Fit
Edible-garden growers maintaining organic certification who need crawler control alongside a separate grasshopper strategy.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Grasshoppers are your main headache, where the Eco-Bran Broad Spectrum Grasshopper & Cricket Bait 2 lbs targets them directly with carbaryl.
This Eco-Bran formula uses a 2% carbaryl concentration on a wheat-bran carrier, designed to attract grasshoppers, crickets, cutworms, locusts, sowbugs, and beetles to one feeding site. The two-pound bag fits mid-size lots and lets you treat hotspots and perimeter zones without committing to a bulk order.
Compared to the larger 7.5-pound version covered later, this size is friendlier for first-time users and small properties. In most cases the 2% carbaryl rate sits below stronger concentrate products, which means the bait leans more on placement strategy than chemical load. You may find the best results when applying it early in the morning when grasshoppers are already actively feeding.
Useful Strengths
- Wheat-bran carrier is highly attractive to grasshoppers and field crickets, drawing them away from foliage
- Sprinkle or spread application methods suit both spot treatments and perimeter barriers
- Mid-size bag balances coverage and storage for homeowners without garage space to spare
- Targets a broad pest list in one application, reducing trips back to the shed
Potential Drawbacks
- Carbaryl rules out use on some edible crops close to harvest, so label review matters
- Bait needs dry conditions for full effectiveness, so timing around weather forecasts is part of the plan
Perfect Match For
Suburban gardeners managing mixed grasshopper and cricket pressure on lots up to roughly a quarter acre.
Swap It Out When
You maintain a larger property or pasture, where the Eco-Bran Broad Spectrum Grasshopper & Cricket Bait 7.5 lbs covers more ground per purchase.
Bonide’s 5-pound pail is the bulk version of the same diatomaceous earth concept RobiGuard offers, designed for both indoor and outdoor use across homes, barns, stables, and gardens. The label covers ants, cockroaches, earwigs, silverfish, beetles, slugs, millipedes, fleas, bedbugs, grasshoppers, and centipedes, with results typically showing within 48 hours of contact or ingestion.
Where the RobiGuard 1-pound pouch handles one or two garden zones, this pail covers a full property plus indoor treatment zones. Insects cannot build immunity to the physical mode of action, which sets diatomaceous earth apart from carbaryl or pyrethroid products covered earlier. The trade-off is the same weather sensitivity: moisture reduces effectiveness, so reapplication after rain is part of the routine.
What Helps Most
- Five-pound supply covers larger gardens, plus indoor spots like baseboards and crawl spaces
- Multi-use label spans home, barn, stable, vegetable, and flower garden settings
- Physical mode of action means pests cannot develop resistance over time
- Can be dusted directly or mixed into a slurry for sprayer application, depending on the job
Room For Improvement
- Requires a duster for even application, and inhaling the fine powder is unpleasant without a mask
- Outdoor performance drops sharply after rain or heavy morning dew
Who Should Grab It
Property owners with both indoor and outdoor pest pressure who want one product that handles grasshoppers, fleas, and silverfish in a single pail.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
Your priority is bait-based ingestion control in open fields, where the Eco Bran Grasshopper Bait 2 lb attracts grasshoppers rather than relying on contact.
The 7.5-pound Eco-Bran is the same 2% carbaryl formula on a wheat-bran carrier, just in a larger container built for acreage and pasture coverage. The proprietary carrier is marketed as rain-fast and UV-resistant compared to typical baits, which is meaningful in open environments where weather swings quickly shorten treatment windows.
Compared to the 2-pound version covered earlier, this bag fits farms, ranchettes, and rural properties where one or two applications need to cover serious ground. The catch is storage: 7.5 pounds of bait needs a sealed container in a dry shed, and you’ll want to plan application timing around local weather patterns to get full value from the rain-resistant claim.
Why It Works Well
- Bulk supply lowers the per-pound cost compared to smaller Eco-Bran bags
- Rain-fast and UV-resistant carrier extends field life in exposed conditions
- Sprinkle or spread method adapts to broadcast spreaders and targeted hand application
- Covers grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, cutworms, ants, and beetles in one product
Honest Caveats
- Bulky bag requires dry, sealed storage to prevent clumping and premature degradation
- Carbaryl restrictions still apply on certain crops and around pollinator timing windows
Built With In Mind
Rural property managers and small-acreage owners treating pasture, fence-line, and large garden areas in a single pass.
Another Choice May Suit
You only need a small-yard treatment and want to test the formula first, where the Eco Bran Grasshopper Bait 2 lb offers a lower-commitment starting point.
The 44-pound Peacock bag is the ranch-scale version of the Eco-Bran wheat-bran formula, marketed for control across the many grasshopper species found across North America, including clear-winged, migratory, two-striped, Packard, differential, and red-legged varieties. It also covers locusts and Mormon crickets when those outbreaks occur.
Where the 2-pound Eco-Bran bag handles a suburban yard, this 44-pound unit is built for agricultural settings where grasshopper pressure threatens crop yield. The wheat-bran carrier is the same one used in the smaller bags, so the active behavior at the feeding site stays consistent. You may find this scale is only worth the storage commitment if you’re treating multiple acres or coordinating with neighbors on a community-wide effort.
The Case For It
- Wheat-bran carrier is highly attractive to grasshoppers, drawing them away from vulnerable crops
- Covers the long list of damaging grasshopper species found across North American agricultural regions
- Bulk format lowers the per-pound cost for large-scale treatment plans
- Also effective on locusts and Mormon crickets when those outbreaks overlap with grasshopper season
Practical Considerations
- 44-pound bag demands dry, sealed storage to prevent clumping and loss of palatability
- Excess inventory may outlast a single season for small-acreage users, raising storage-management questions
The Right Fit
Ranchers, farmers, and acreage managers facing real crop-threat pressure from grasshoppers, locusts, or Mormon crickets.
Not Your Match When
You only treat a residential yard, where the smaller Eco Bran Grasshopper Bait 2 lb delivers the same carrier without the storage commitment.
The 2-pound Eco Bran bag brings the same wheat-bran grasshopper formula down to a manageable size for homeowners and small-plot gardeners. It’s designed to attract and kill the same wide list of North American grasshopper species, plus locusts and Mormon crickets when those pests show up in the same range.
Compared to the 44-pound Peacock bag covered earlier, this is the entry point for anyone testing the bait approach for the first time. You can treat a small garden, evaluate results over a week or two, and decide whether to scale up. The trade-off is that severe infestations may demand multiple bags, and per-pound cost runs higher than the bulk option.
What Pays Off
- Compact 2-pound bag fits standard garden-shed storage without taking over a shelf
- Wheat-bran carrier uses the same attract-and-kill strategy as the larger Eco-Bran products
- Covers grasshoppers, locusts, and Mormon crickets under one label
- Lower upfront cost makes the bait approach accessible for first-time users
What To Weigh
- Two pounds may run out quickly under heavy pressure, requiring additional bags
- Per-pound cost runs higher than the bulk Eco-Bran formats covered earlier
Who Will Love This
First-time bait users with small gardens who want to trial the wheat-bran approach before committing to larger bags.
Where Another Pick Suits Better
You need perimeter defense with longer residual control, where the Sevin Garden Perimeter Insect Killer Granules II spreads faster across larger edge zones.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Grasshopper Killers
Application Method Fits Your Yard
Sprays, granular baits, perimeter granules, and dusts each behave differently once they hit the ground. Sprays coat foliage and need a sprayer, granular baits rely on insects eating them, perimeter granules form a barrier, and dusts work on contact. The right method depends on whether grasshoppers are feeding on leaves, resting in grass, or moving along the property edge. Matching the format to the behavior saves time and reduces wasted product.
Active Ingredient and Tolerance
Carbaryl baits kill through ingestion, pyrethroid sprays attack on contact, and diatomaceous earth works physically. Each has a different safety profile around pets, kids, and edible gardens. People gardening close to harvest or around pollinator windows usually lean toward baits with clear label timing or organic-approved options. Reading the label before purchase prevents surprises mid-season.
Bag or Bottle Size Covers Your Ground
A 2-pound bait bag handles a modest garden, while 7.5- and 44-pound formats suit larger properties. Concentrate bottles can stretch further when mixed, but require sprayer gear. Matching the package size to the acreage avoids running out mid-treatment or paying for inventory that sits in the shed past its effective window.
Weather Resilience and Timing
Moisture shortens the life of dusts and some baits, while rain-fast carriers extend field performance. Sun exposure breaks down surface treatments faster than shaded applications. Most grasshopper control plans work best when timed to early-season nymph activity, before populations build into full-sized feeding machines.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Mistakes Worth Dodging
Treating the whole yard when grasshoppers are concentrated in a fence row is a common miss, since broadcast applications waste product and increase exposure. Skipping the label is another trap, especially with carbaryl baits and pyrethroid sprays that carry crop, timing, and re-entry rules. Applying bait right before rain also wastes a treatment cycle, so checking the local forecast is part of the plan.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Larger bags and concentrates cost more up front, but the per-acre cost often drops as the package scales up. Concentrates also bring sprayer equipment into the equation, which adds an investment beyond the bottle itself. Higher-tier formats usually pay off when pressure is consistent and acreage is large, while smaller bags suit trial runs and tight storage situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do grasshopper baits actually work?
Wheat-bran carriers attract grasshoppers to feed, and the insecticide on the bran disrupts their system once ingested. The grasshoppers typically stop feeding and die within a short window after consumption.
Can I use these products near vegetable gardens?
Some options on this list carry organic-gardening approval, while others like carbaryl baits and pyrethroid sprays have label rules about crop timing and harvest intervals. Reading the product label before applying near edibles is essential.
When is the best time to apply grasshopper control?
Early-season treatment, when grasshoppers are still nymphs, tends to deliver better results than late-season applications on full-sized adults. Spring and early summer applications align with peak feeding pressure in most regions.
How long does a single treatment last?
It depends on the format: diatomaceous earth and some baits last a few weeks, while perimeter granules and rain-resistant baits can extend across months. Weather, application rate, and pest pressure all affect residual performance.
Do I need a sprayer for these products?
Not for granular baits and dusts, but liquid concentrates like bifenthrin require a pump or hose-end sprayer. The equipment investment is worth considering before choosing a concentrate over a ready-to-spread option.
Wrap Up
The right grasshopper killer depends on the size of your yard, your tolerance for chemical actives, and whether grasshoppers are feeding, resting, or moving along the edges. Smaller gardens benefit from compact baits and dusts, while larger properties and pasture settings call for bulk formats and concentrate sprays. Match the method to the pest behavior, read each label, and time the application for early-season pressure to get the most out of any product on this list.
