Our readers keep the lights on and my morning glass full of iced black tea. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.5 Best Natural Insecticide For Grasshoppers | No More Holes

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The Garlic Barrier concentrate is built for serious scale — one gallon dilutes into enough spray volume to cover orchards, row crops, and large vegetable beds. The active ingredient is pure garlic extract, which works as a broad-spectrum repellent against grasshoppers, aphids, beetles, and even deer and rabbits. Because it repels rather than kills on contact, it’s most effective when applied before a heavy infestation settles in.

User reports consistently note that the smell — described as garlic chicken — fades after a few hours but the repellent effect lasts through several dry days. The formula is OMRI Listed and safe around bees once the spray dries, but you should avoid direct application during peak bloom. The concentrate format gives you fine control over dilution strength for different crop sensitivities.

The 128-ounce jug is heavy and the capsaicin in garlic can irritate skin, so gloves and eye protection are wise during mixing. Reapplication after heavy rain is necessary, but the coverage area makes that manageable.

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Monterey B.t. uses Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that targets the digestive system of leaf-chewing larvae. For grasshopper control, this is most effective when applied to early-instar nymphs right after they hatch — they ingest the treated foliage and stop feeding within hours. It is not a contact killer that works on mature, hard-shelled adults.

The ready-to-use 32-ounce bottle with trigger sprayer is convenient for spot-treating specific plants like broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce where you already see chewed leaves. Users report it cleared cabbage loopers and young caterpillars from cilantro and Texas laurel with visible results in under 48 hours. It is OMRI Listed and safe for earthworms, honeybees, and ladybugs when applied according to directions.

Because it must be eaten to work, thorough spray coverage on both leaf surfaces is critical. The bottle size is adequate for a mid-sized vegetable patch but runs out fast on larger gardens. You will need multiple bottles or a concentrate version for extended use. Stored in a cool place, the bacteria remain viable through the season.

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Milky spore is a biological powder built around Bacillus popilliae, a bacterium that infects and kills the grubs of Japanese beetles and related scarab species. While it is not a direct grasshopper insecticide, it targets the soil-dwelling juvenile stages of many hard-bodied pests that share the same turf ecosystem. If your grasshopper problem stems from a larger grub population in the lawn, this breaks the cycle at the root.

Users who applied it to raised beds and lawn edges report that grub damage stopped within a week and that the spores persisted in the soil for years after a single application. The powder is safe for pets, earthworms, and beneficial insects — one reviewer noted fireflies thriving post-treatment. Application requires a teaspoon every four feet along rows, and the spores need soil temperatures above 50°F to activate.

The bag only covers about 2,500 square feet, so larger properties need multiple bags. The lack of printed instructions is a common frustration — you must look up the detailed application guide online. For growers already battling Japanese beetles and grubs alongside grasshoppers, this is a foundational long-term tool rather than a quick knockdown spray.

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This peppermint oil spray uses concentrated essential oils to create a strong scent barrier that repels a broad range of pests, including grasshoppers, ants, spiders, and rodents. It comes ready-to-use in a 16-ounce bottle with no mixing required. The mechanism is purely repellent — it does not kill on contact but makes treated areas unappealing for feeding.

Owner feedback highlights its effectiveness on crickets, camel spiders, and ants around the garden perimeter. One reviewer noted a reduction in porch spiders after a few applications, and another found it safe around two dogs. The peppermint smell is pleasant to humans and fades quickly, leaving no chemical residue. It is not formulated for heavy-duty infestations — think of it as a maintenance spray for established gardens.

The main limitation is coverage. At 16 ounces, it handles small beds and entry points well but becomes expensive per square foot compared to concentrates. Users also report it is not effective on flying hornets that approach at face level. For a low-cost, low-toxicity first line of defense against light grasshopper pressure, this is a solid entry point.

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Bonide’s dust formulation uses permethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid derived from chrysanthemum flowers, at a low 0.25% concentration. It is designed for crack-and-crevice application via a snorkel tube that reaches deep into ground nests. For grasshoppers, this is most useful when you can identify burrowing nymphs or adult hiding spots in soil cracks and around foundations.

Customer reports are overwhelmingly positive for ground bees and yellow jacket nests — powder applied to the entry hole eliminated activity within 24 hours. The dust clings to insect legs and body segments, transferring to the nest network. One reviewer explicitly noted it worked on 80 percent of ground bee holes with a single application, and no activity was seen after mowing.

The catch is that this is a contact dust that works best in enclosed spaces, not an open-leaf spray. It is not OMRI listed, and the permethrin base can affect cats and aquatic life if misused. For a targeted attack on ground-dwelling grasshopper nymphs or yellow jacket co-infestations, this is a precise tool — not a general garden spray.