Recent reports of unusually large grasshoppers across several regions of Türkiye have prompted public concern, but Prof. Dr. İslam Saruhan, Head of the Department of Plant Protection at the Faculty of Agriculture of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), says there is no grasshopper outbreak in the country.

According to Prof. Dr. Saruhan, the recent increase in sightings is a seasonal phenomenon driven by favorable environmental conditions rather than the large-scale swarm events associated with true locust outbreaks.

Environmental Conditions Have Favored Population Growth

Prof. Dr. Saruhan explained that fluctuations in grasshopper populations are strongly influenced by environmental factors such as rainfall patterns, soil moisture, vegetation, temperature, natural predators, and wind systems.

"Recent environmental conditions have been highly favorable for grasshoppers, allowing their populations to increase," he said.

He noted that the higher number of sightings can be explained by suitable climatic conditions, increased population density, natural behavioral changes, and localized movements rather than by an outbreak.

"This Is Not an Outbreak"

Prof. Dr. Saruhan emphasized that true locust outbreaks occur only when billions of insects gather into dense migratory swarms.

"The situation currently observed in Türkiye is not an outbreak. It is a seasonal phenomenon. During a genuine locust outbreak, billions of individuals move together in massive swarms that migrate like a rain cloud. That is not what we are seeing today."

Grasshoppers Are Smaller Than Reported and Pose Little Health Risk

Addressing widespread claims about unusually large insects, Prof. Dr. Saruhan said that the grasshoppers recently photographed are not 10–12 centimeters long, as some reports have suggested.

He explained that Türkiye is home to numerous grasshopper species, with the most common, including green, black, Moroccan, Italian, and other widespread species, typically measuring between 1.5 and 6 centimeters. Differences in measurement methods have likely contributed to exaggerated size estimates.

Prof. Dr. Saruhan also stressed that scientific evidence shows grasshoppers pose little direct risk to human health.

Unlike mosquitoes or ticks, grasshoppers are not recognized as significant disease vectors, do not feed on humans, and are not known to transmit infectious diseases. Although rare defensive bites or minor scratches may occur, they are generally of no medical significance.

Grasshoppers Do Not Attack People

According to Prof. Dr. Saruhan, grasshoppers naturally avoid human contact.

"Entomological research shows that grasshoppers are not aggressive insects. Their instinctive response when encountering people is to escape."

He explained that when large numbers of grasshoppers appear to land on or collide with people, these contacts are accidental and result from the density of the insects rather than intentional or defensive attacks.

Continued Monitoring Remains Important

Prof. Dr. Saruhan noted that while climate is the primary factor behind population increases, a true outbreak requires a sequence of additional conditions, including successful reproduction, sustained population growth, behavioral transformation into swarming insects, migration, colonization of new breeding areas, and eventually regional outbreaks.

Based on current observations, he does not expect a grasshopper outbreak in the near future.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that continued monitoring remains essential, noting that localized outbreaks have occurred in parts of Türkiye in the past. He added that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is actively monitoring the situation and that there is no cause for public concern at present.

What to Do If a Grasshopper Enters Your Home

Prof. Dr. Saruhan explained that grasshoppers may occasionally enter homes because they are attracted by light, warmth, dry conditions, wind, or nearby food sources.

However, they do not establish nests indoors, reproduce inside homes, or damage household belongings.

Rather than killing them, he recommends simply opening a door or window to allow the insect to leave naturally or gently capturing it with a container and releasing it outdoors.