It is an important agricultural pest in Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Congo Brazzaville, Southern Benin, and the Sahel region.

[2][3] Both nymphs and mature Zonocerus variegatus cause damage to crops, particularly cassava, groundnuts and vegetables, and it has been implicated in transmitting mosaic viruses of cowpea and okra.

The worst crop damage occurs in humid areas, on the edges of forests and near recently cleared, fallow ground with herbaceous plants.

[4] There is a long tradition in Africa and Asia of eating insects, and these provide a high quality source of animal protein, nutritionally superior to beef and chicken.

[5] The insects contain about 10% chitin, the derivatives of which are of interest in medical research, in industry and agriculture, for the manufacture of biodegradable plastics, in wound repair, as a crop booster, and as a nematicide and fungicide.