City looking to control measures next year for grasshopper outbreak
By Tim Kalinowski on August 12, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com The City will not be taking any additional measures to control localized grasshopper outbreaks in Lethbridge this summer, but will seek to take action next year if the problem persists.City of Lethbridge Director of Infrastructure Services Doug Hawkins addressed the issue during Tuesday’s public meeting in a response to an inquiry from Coun. Blaine Hyggen. Hyggen made the inquiry at the last council meeting in July after he and other councillors received several complaints from the public on localized grasshopper infestations this summer of both the two-striped and migratory grasshopper species, mainly on the westside.
The Herald was told by Lethbridge-based grasshopper expert Dan Johnson last week that he too was more concerned about next year as far as a possibly more widespread outbreak goes- particularly if the weather conditions we have experienced this year continue into next summer.
“A little bit more concerning is the fact that all around Lethbridge and southern Alberta we have patches of this happening,” Johnson stated when interviewed on the subject. “Those patches are fairly small, but they are fairly intense. So if we continue weather like this, and they lay eggs- and they are laying eggs right now; I have seen them. Those eggs will be in the ground. If they get a little bit of rain later, that is even better for the eggs. So I have a feeling next spring around the end of May or beginning of June they will be hatching. Along the edge of town, but also in these other places where there are these patches. Another year of weather like this will allow those patches to sort of join together, and coalesce a bit more.”
Hawkins confirmed to council on Tuesday that his staff was on the same page as Johnson.
“I think nothing directly will impact the situation this year,” stated Hawkins, “but we are looking at control measures we might engage in, subject to council approval, to deal with next year’s problem.” Follow @TimKalHerald on Twitter 4
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