What do grasshoppers eat? An introduction to common grasshopper species

Grasshoppers are actually what we usually call locusts, and they are generally quite common in lawns. Grasshoppers are not only natural enemies of crops, but also a nutritious delicacy, so it can be said that grasshoppers make people both happy and resentful. So what do grasshoppers eat? Which grasshopper species are there? Let's find out together.

What do grasshoppers eat?

Grasshoppers have large mouths and well-developed jaws, and they mainly feed on plant leaves. Wild grasshoppers, for example, like to eat vegetables such as sweet potato, water spinach, and Chinese cabbage, while grain crops such as corn, wheat, sorghum, and rice also fall within their feeding range.

Grasshopper species

1. Cotton locust

The cotton locust is also called the Chinese giant locust, and in some regional dialects it is called Dengdaoshan, Da Youluozi, and so on. The main point of these names is that it is strong, large in size, and fragrant and tasty to eat. Generally, it can only be caught on large mountains, so it is a variety that is not easy to obtain.

2. Acrida cinerea

Acrida cinerea, also known as the Chinese grasshopper, is the most common and also one of the most delicious grasshopper species. People often mention Acrida cinerea together with roast chicken, which shows how much people value its edible value.

3. Rice locust

The rice locust is a very common grasshopper among the grasses of flatlands and low-altitude areas. It is also mainly a phytophagous insect, and in the early period it was a major pest of rice farming. Apart from winter, adults can be seen almost everywhere.

4. Desert locust

Desert locusts are distributed in North Africa, East Africa, and South Africa. They are extremely destructive, and they once brought huge disasters to the pioneers of the western United States. In addition, unlike other grasshoppers, the strangest point is that desert locusts are basically solitary.

5. Pygmy grasshopper

Pygmy grasshoppers habitually live on moist, bare ground. They have typical protective coloration, have an excellent stealth effect in the grass, and are good at jumping, so catching a pygmy grasshopper is not an easy task.

The above is an introduction to the diet and species of grasshoppers. I believe everyone now has a new understanding of this animal, the grasshopper. Although it is an agricultural pest, its economic value should not be ignored.

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