grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are insects in the suborder Caelifera of the order Orthoptera, belonging to the family Acrididae, the short-horned grasshoppers. They are herbivorous and commonly inhabit grassy habitats. They vary in size and color from small brown individuals to bright green, often with markings that camouflage them in vegetation.

Most species are diurnal and rely on powerful hind legs for jumping, enabling fast escape and movement between food patches. They have relatively short antennae and prominent eyes. Many grasshoppers produce sounds, or stridulate, by rubbing their hind legs against forewings or abdomen, especially during courtship and territorial displays.

Grasshoppers undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Females lay eggs in soil in pods; eggs overwinter and hatch into wingless nymphs that resemble small adults. After several molts, nymphs molt into winged adults in many species. Most grasshoppers live for about a year.

Diet consists of grasses and herbaceous plants. In some species, high densities trigger locust swarms that can devastate crops across large areas. Outbreaks are influenced by weather, habitat, and crowding, and management includes monitoring, habitat management, and chemical or biological controls where needed.

Grasshoppers occur worldwide, from deserts to temperate grasslands and forests, but are most common where vegetation provides abundant forage.