Rain welcomed; won't deter 'hoppers

By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | East Texas Edition

July 11, 2002 -- Late spring and early summer of this year, weather and climate conditions for most of East Texas appeared almost normal. Then, much of the region began experiencing the first signs of a drought, and along with that, a grasshopper infestation.

Then, less than two weeks ago, it began to rain. And for many areas in the region, rainfall continues almost on a daily basis.

The rain in East Texas has benefited crops and pastures, but what does all the moisture do to the grasshopper population? Are they going to go away?

"Not exactly," replied Dr. James Robinson, entomologist for the Texas A&M Research Center in Overton.

He said maybe with it not being as dry, the grasshopper survival rate may decrease, but basically the grasshoppers are already here and rain will not play a factor in decreasing their numbers.

In fact, the rain will simply increase the vegetation for the grasshoppers to eat. This fact will likely keep the insects away from the vegetation around residences, and because there will be more vegetation in the fields, it will keep the insects from "stripping" a pasture, Robinson explained.

Prior to the recent rains, when conditions were dry, Robinson had pointed out that "dry weather increases nymph and adult grasshopper survival. Under favorable conditions, such as those of a drought, the female can lay as many as 400 eggs."

Grasshopper eggs are laid in the soil. The eggs can be harmed by a fungus that develops from the excessive moisture. On the other hand, the fungus does not harm the existing grasshoppers, Robinson said.

The amounts of rainfall in the region have been scattered.

Mark Scirto, meteorologist for KLTV, said the first 20 days of June in Tyler, rainfall amounts hardly equaled an inch, but the rainfall total for the month ended up at almost four inches. In a rainfall comparison, Scrito pointed to Texarkana, in the upper northeast corner of the state, is one part of the region that could be considered still experiencing drought conditions because that area has not received much of the recent rain.

In Fannin County (Bonham area), rainfall total for June was 3.77 inches, and the first week of July has seen over two inches.

In Van Zandt County (Canton area), at least six inches of rain have been recorded for June, with the majority of that amount counted in the last few weeks of the month.