Grasshopper | Description, Features, Facts & Species
The name Grasshopper describes a number of insects belonging to the scientific “suborder” Caelifera, of the order Orthoptera. In this suborder, there are more than 11,000 species of locusts. That’s a lot of grasshoppers!
Like all insects, grasshoppers have six legs, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. It also has an exoskeleton which is a hard outer surface to protect its softer interior. They have two pairs of wings. The rear fender is larger while the front fender is small and rather rough. Their hind legs are wide, which helps them to jump.
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They are usually brown in color but can vary in color including fawn, sepia and light green. Some are even scratched.
This insect lives all over the world except in places that are too cold like the north and south poles. They have adapted to most habitats including deserts, forests and grasslands.
What do Grasshopper eat?
Grasshoppers eat plants, mainly leaves, grass, and grains. Many locusts can eat a lot of food and can cause serious problems for farmers by eating up their crops.
How do Grasshoppers make noise?
Male grasshoppers will make a chirping sound by rubbing their hind legs against one of their stiff front wings. The raw legs cause the wings to vibrate and make a sound, almost like a violin bow.
How are Grasshopper different from Crickets?
Grasshoppers and crickets are similar insects, both in the order Orthoptera, but they are different and actually belong to different scientific suborders. Key differences can be hard to see:
Grasshoppers have shorter antennae than crickets.
Grasshoppers make sounds by rubbing their front legs against their wings, while crickets rub their wings together.
Grasshoppers hear with their bellies, while crickets hear with their feet.
Grasshoppers are diurnal (active during the day). Crickets are nocturnal (nocturnal).
Grasshoppers eat only plants, while crickets eat other animals and are omnivores.
What are locusts?
Locusts is a type of grasshopper. They are usually solitary, but are known for forming huge swarms that can swoop down and destroy large areas of crops.
Interesting Facts about Grasshoppers
They lay eggs that hatch into larvae. As the pupae mature, they molt several times.
The villain in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life is the grasshopper.
They have many predators, including birds, spiders, beetles, and lizards.
They can jump 20 times their body length.