Final answer:
Grasshoppers have caused problems in prairies such as crop destruction, soil erosion, and pest infestations, leading to severe ecological and economic impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three problems that grasshoppers caused in the prairies include crop destruction, soil erosion, and pest infestation.
- Crop destruction: Grasshoppers can consume large amounts of foliage, leading to significant damage to crops and economic losses for farmers.
- Soil erosion: The consumption of vegetation by grasshoppers can lead to a lack of plant roots that hold soil in place, resulting in soil erosion, especially during periods of drought or high winds, as seen during the Dust Bowl era.
- Pest infestation: Grasshopper swarms can lead to infestations that are difficult to control, and they can spread rapidly, damaging more crops and natural vegetation over a large area.
These issues have historically led to wider ecological and economic impacts, such as those experienced during the Dust Bowl, when combined with poor agricultural practices and environmental conditions.