Grasshopper - Definition and Overview

Caelifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Orthoptera Suborder: Caelifera
Families
Acrididae Charilaidae Dericorythidae Eumastacidae Euschmidtiidae Lathiceridae Lentulidae Lithidiidae Ommexechidae Pamphagidae Pneumoridae Pyrgacrididae Pyrgomorphidae Romaleidae Tanaoceridae Tetrigidae Thericleidae Tridactylidae Tristiridae

The Caelifera are a family of herbivorous insects of the order Orthoptera, commonly called grasshoppers in English. Although the family includes more species, this article is mostly about grasshoppers. Grasshoppers can jump long distances with their powerful hind legs and most are also capable of flight. Swarming grasshoppers are called locusts. Real grasshoppers have short antennae. “Grasshoppers” with antennae that are as long as or longer than their body, are in fact bush crickets or katydids.

This Giant South American Grasshopper (Tropidacris violaceus) is two inches (5 cm) long

Grasshoppers as food

In many places around the world, grasshoppers are eaten as a good source of protein. Supposedly, some countries instruct military personnel to collect grasshoppers to eat as a food source.

Locusts

When populations of certain species of Short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae grow too big, its members start swarming and transform into locusts. Locust swarms are known to cause massive damage to crops.

See Also

• Locust
• Orthoptera

External Links

Orthoptera Image Gallery (Iowa State University Entomology Department) (http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/orthoptera) Australian Plague Locust Commission (http://www.affa.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=D2C48F86-BA1A-11A1-A2200060B0A00383)