Five grasshopper species were caged over milk stage millet panicles to determine relative damage rates.Psalydolyttaspp. blister beetles were caged over flowering stage millet panicles. The grasshopperHieroglyphus daganensiswas caged on flowering, milk and dough stage panicles. The standard treatment used was two insects caged per panicle for 4 days. Highest damage rates per insect were obtained fromPsalydolyttaspp., at 10.3 cm2millet surface area per day,Kraussaria anguliferaat 4.3 cm2per day, andCataloipus cymbiferusat 3.3 cm2per day. The average insect weight was correlated with damage rate (r = 0.93), and the number of insects requiring replacement was negatively correlated with damage rate (r = —0.69). Damage per insect dry weight (g) was highest forPsalydolyttaspp. and the smaller grasshoppersKraussella amabileandOedaleus senegalensisat 25.8, 7.9, and 6.4 cm2/g per day, respectively. Highest damage levels fromH. daganensisoccurred during the early and middle milk stage. Damage rates were relatively low during the early flowering and mid‐late dough stages. The percentage weight of grain kernels remaining after grasshopper feeding was 35–70% when exposed to grasshoppers during late milk and dough stages and 10–35% when exposed during the early milk stage. A formula and example calculations for estimating economic injury levels are provided.