Questions foe Discussion

Grasshoppers, Crickets and Katydids - Order Orthoptera

Grasshoppers sometimes regarded as pest in our garden. Their number is large. Different species of grasshopper are easily found.

Grasshoppers are common because they eat most kinds of plants. Not many insect species feed on all kinds of plants. Different plants have evolved different kinds of resistance to avoid being eaten by insects, such as taste, toxic, plants structure etc. So most of the plants eating insects feed on special kind of plants only. However, grasshoppers eat most kinds of plants. They have strong chewing mouthparts. They feed on almost all kind of plants in our garden and in natural habitat. They following our corps and plants, they come to our garden and our farm. This is sure one of the major factors for their success.

Beside, grasshoppers have some other fitness factors. They fly, although not a very good flier. They have good eye sight, although not as good as dragonfly, flies, bee or butterfly, still good enough to fly and to avoid predators. They do camouflage, although not as good as stick insect, but they have not given up the wings function, legs walking functions and good eyes sight.
Grasshopper's hind legs are their icon and this is also the major factor of their survival fitness. Their skill of jumping to escape form predators is very effective. The spiny and strange kick by their legs make some predators keep away from them.

Your answers are welcomed, please send email to us.

Your answers are welcomed, please send email to us.

Reference:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 369.