Recent observation from a survey currently undertaken in Sierra Leone indicates that cassava is being serious damage by grasshopper, irrespective of variety (improve and local). This was observed in areas with high Chromolaena odorata infestation. My advice to the farmers affected was to brush and remove all saim weed plants around the cassava farms. Grasshoppers use Saim weed as a host, but does not feed on it, why? What phytochemicals are present in Saim weed that inhibits feeding by grasshopper.
There are three reasons of resurgence or over population of grasshoppers, first one is open land area with a massive weed population, main host plant and ecoclimatic favurability. Physiologically breeding in grasshoppers is induced due to occurrence of plant sterols such as campestreol, stigmasterol and even derivatives of cholesterol. These fatty acids provide physiological sustenance for making flights, fecundity and prodigality in grasshopper population. Other than this weed plants are good source of vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates.
I agree with Dr.Ravi Kant Upadhyay , moreover, a number of parasites are host habitat specific, therefore they only prey their host when they are on the certain host plant, where there are other plants where on or around the host is residing they do not visit for the hunting purpose, therefore, allowing the host to increase its population as well as the favorable nourishment.
More help and better advice could be provided to farmers affected, if this issue could be subject of future research.
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