Natural History
Food
Many species of grasshoppers are general herbivores feeding on a variety of plants. Some species only like grasses.
Habitat
Widespread in U.S.
Predators
Birds, lizards,mantids, spiders, and rodents eat grasshoppers.
Appearance (Morphology)
• Brown, with some darker markings
• Black herringbone pattern on hind femur
• Big hind legs for jumping
• 2 pairs of wings: forewings narrow and relatively hard; hind wings large, membranous
• Antennae not very long, 20-24 segments
• Conspicuous eyes
• Cerci (pair of appendages at end of abdomen) unjointed
Adult Males and Females
Males have a single unpaired plate at the end of abdomen. Female has two pairs of valves (triangle shapes) at end of abdomen used to dig in sand when egg laying.
Immatures (different stages)
In very young stage, the grasshopper has no wings. In later stages, wings are visible as small pads at end of thorax.