Grasshoppers are leaping insects found all over the world. They are mostly forests or grasslands dwellers. They are also available common in gardens. Their colour helps them blend in with the plants and dirt around them. They are also closely related to crickets.

Did you know, the ancestors of today’s grasshoppers existed even before dinosaurs on Earth? It was after this, during the Triassic period that the first reptiles and dinosaurs appeared on Earth.

The fossil record shows that primitive (the earliest) grasshoppers first appeared during the Carboniferous period, over 300 million years ago.

What are grasshoppers like?

In comparison to other insects, grasshoppers are large. Grasshoppers over 4 inches long are found in many places. Grasshoppers have long hind legs that are helpful for jumping. They also have antennas, or feelers, on their heads that they use to the touch and smell. They even have special eyes that enable them to check directions right away.

Most grasshoppers mostly eat plants. Some kinds, like locusts, also move in swarms and destroy farmers’ crops.

Usually, only male grasshoppers chirp or sing. They create their song by rubbing their wings along or by rubbing their hind legs against their front wings. This is their way of calling females.

Who eats grasshoppers?

Birds, frogs, snakes, and other many animals eat them. In some places, people eat them too. They eat them dried, jellied, roasted, or ground into a meal.

 

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