A Few Astounding Grasshopper Facts
When you really think about it there are some pretty astounding grasshopper facts. For instance, not even every type of grasshopper has been seen. There are thought to be between 11,000 and 18,000 different species of grasshoppers. And, grasshopper facts tell us that grasshoppers thrive in all types of habitat. They are so adaptable they inhabit all parts of the world except for the North and South Poles.
Grasshoppers do have something in common. They don’t have any ears at all and they all have five eyes. They are herbivores, who eat only plants. They go through three stages of reproduction. First there are eggs, then nymphs, then adult grasshoppers. You can see grasshoppers wherever there is plenty of food for them, such as in fields and meadows.
One of the strangest grasshopper facts is that they do not have a nose with which to breathe. Instead, they have holes all along the sides of their bodies for breathing. A grasshopper is made up of a head, abdomen, thorax, two pair of wings, six legs that have joints and two antennae. Grasshoppers typically hop when they move but they can jump 20 times the length of their body.
Grasshopper facts tell us that the five eyes of the grasshopper are different. Three are what are called three simple eyes and two, compound eyes. If you have ever tried to catch a grasshopper you have seen firsthand how very hard it is. That is because all of these eyes allow a grasshopper to see not only long distances, but also forwards, backwards and sideways.
Grasshoppers are all herbivores but different types of grasshoppers prefer different kinds of plants. They can cause a lot of trouble should swarms of grasshoppers start eating a farmer’s crops. They can cause a lot of damage and the crop will sell for less money. Some of the foods grasshoppers really love include corn, oats, rye, cotton, barley, wheat, alfalfa, and clover.
Grasshoppers are unique among insects in that they sing. While their song sounds kind of like a chirp, different species make the noise in different ways. Some grasshoppers rub their wings together and others clatter their wings. The sounds attract male grasshoppers to females for mating.
Some grasshopper facts are appealing to some people and not at all to others. That is because many people eat grasshoppers. While it is more common in Africa, China, and Mexico, some people in the United States do eat grasshoppers as well, particularly in the Western United States.
If you do decide to eat grasshoppers, they are very nutritious. For instance, a large grasshopper can have 20.6 grams of protein and a small one can have around 14.3 grams. In many countries, the military are taught to catch and eat grasshoppers if they have no food. If you are thinking about eating a grasshopper, don’t eat a raw one. They need to be cleaned and cooked. If not, you could end up with a tapeworm. In the U.S. and other Western countries, grasshoppers are sometimes coated with chocolate and considered a delicacy.
Grasshoppers are an important part of the ecosystem of the world. So, even if some grasshopper facts do not appeal to you, overall they fulfill a function in nature. They even do some things that help farmers, such as eating poisonous weeds and leaving nutrients in the soil.
Many gardeners buy pesticides every year to keep grasshoppers from eating their garden crops. Grasshoppers are hard to get rid of because they live almost anywhere. Whenever possible, try to control grasshoppers in an organic way. One way is to raise chickens as poultry are good grasshopper eaters.