Grasshoppers are classified as grasshoppers. This is a superfamily of the order of Orthoptera insects. He has sub-orders. Grasshoppers belong to the long mustache. It contains the same family of the same name. Previously, there were more, but other long-wattled animals became extinct.
However, the number of grasshoppers closes the "gaps". More than 7 thousand species are known. They are divided into genders. Let's look at some examples.
Dybka steppe / Saga pedo
For habitation, this species prefers gramineous or feather grass steppes, however, they can also be found in other types of landscape. Unfortunately, Dybka is a steppe endangered species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and Russia. The reasons for the decline in the population can be considered both a natural reduction in the distribution area (fires, soil erosion, a change in flora), and artificial factors (plowing of land for agricultural needs, cutting down shrubs).
Dybka's body, green with a yellow longitudinal stripe, reaches 70-80 mm; in females, the length of the ovipositor must also be taken into account - up to 40 mm. Such dimensions make Dybka steppe the largest grasshopper in Russia.
By the way, on our site there is an interesting article about the largest beetles in the world.
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How to identify an insect?
In order to determine which superfamily an insect belongs to, it is necessary to know the description of its main body parts. It is conventionally divided into three parts - head, chest and abdomen. It is necessary to carefully examine and pay attention to the distinctive features of the insect, namely: the size, type and length of antennae and limbs. To identify an individual, you can turn to an electronic identifier, which will tell you how to correctly distinguish a grasshopper from a locust.
Definition tables
The determinant consists of various tables, in which the type of representatives of the family can be determined by complex external signs. With the help of these tables, you can easily identify the belonging of the insect. The identifier indicates the characteristic features with the assignment of numbers. Numbers are entered in brackets, under which opposite features are indicated. You can carry out a visual inspection of the insect and follow from one sign to another. For example, the presence of a mustache or other features.
Looking for external features, you can reach your goal - to determine the type. Next to the name in Latin there will be an inscription with the name of the family in Russian. By clicking on the link, you can see the color image of the insect and specify the name. If the data that you found in the identifier coincide with the external signs of the insect, then the identification of the species of an individual (locust or grasshopper) can be considered successful.
Thus, it is not so difficult to correctly distinguish a pest from a predator that is found in the garden. Knowing the features of the body structure will help determine the type. If in doubt, you can use an electronic identifier that will help identify the insect.
Fat Pallas / Deracantha onos
The uniqueness of the species lies in the fact that its representatives have lost the ability to jump in the course of evolution. This feature makes this species completely defenseless, especially against human agrarian activities (cattle grazing, land development).
These variegated insects feed mainly on grains, but cannibalism is possible in captivity.
The sizes of Tolstunov range from 40-50 mm in males to 50-60 mm in females.This species is named in honor of the first scientist who described it - P. Pallas.
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Brownie cricket
The most common species is the house cricket. It has over 2000 varieties. The body length of an adult is about 2-2.5 cm, dense, brown or gray-brown in color. The elytra are short, the wings protrude from under them in the form of folded plaits. Raising the elytra, the crickets very quickly rub them against each other, emitting a musical trill. They have three pairs of legs. The hind ones are the most powerful, with their help the insect makes long jumps.
Crickets do not live long; on average, adults age and die at 2 months of age. To reach sexual maturity, they need to survive 10 molts within 1-1.5 months. It all depends on the ambient temperature. In total, it turns out 3-4 months of life. Wild tropical species can live for about six months. Wild field species live the longest, about a year, and that is due to the fact that they have to hibernate.
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Crickets prefer humid climates and high temperatures. Therefore, as soon as the outside temperature drops, they settle in more comfortable conditions, for example, in a house behind a stove or behind a heating battery. In the natural environment, they settle in crevices, under stones, in secluded burrows. To breed them at home, you will need a terrarium.
The cricket admits only females to its territory. Usually one male invites 3-4 females with his singing. After the date, they look for a place to lay their eggs. This is usually a soft, loose substrate. One female lays an average of 600 eggs. The time of their development is influenced by the ambient temperature. It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. Insects hatched from eggs resemble adults in appearance, only smaller in size, and they have no wings.
What eats
At home, they eat the remains of human food and other insects. In nature, their food is diverse: they feed on plants, smaller insects, are prone to cannibalism, and eat young animals. Those who are fond of breeding these insects know that the clutch of eggs must be separated from the adults in order to avoid cases of cannibalism. In their natural environment, crickets themselves often serve as food for larger insects, amphibians, lizards, birds and other predators.
Giant Ueta / Deinacrida heteracantha
The world's largest grasshopper lives in New Zealand and reaches a length of 30 to 100 mm! The weight of pregnant females can exceed 70 grams.
The body color is brown. To protect and search for food, its hind legs are equipped with large sharp spines, which the grasshopper sharply throws forward in case of danger.
The giant Uetas are of ancient origin. They are endemic to New Zealand and lived there long before the appearance of small mammals. Accordingly, this is precisely what explains their gigantism.
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Where does the brownie cricket live?
The domestic cricket is found in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria. The insect is often found in Russia, France and Germany, Belarus and Poland, Romania, Italy, as well as in other European countries. Large populations of this insect are noted in India and Pakistan, China, Korea, Japan, as well as in the southern part of Australia. Recently, the brownie cricket has been living on the North American continent, where it was brought from Europe.
The main habitat of domestic crickets is human dwellings, warm basements, warehouses or industrial premises, as well as heating lines. In temperate latitudes, with the onset of a warm period lasting from late May to mid-September, house crickets can live outside buildings.The optimal conditions for the life of these insects are temperatures from +30 o C to +35 o C. When the temperature drops, they find cozy shelters in any heated buildings, because when the ambient temperature drops below +21 o C, crickets stop eating and become apathetic , move little, and the growth process of the larvae stops.
Under natural conditions, the basis of the menu of house crickets is any plant food. However, insects need protein supplements in their diets. They satisfy this need by attacking small invertebrates, eating dead insects of other species, or even attacking their own kind. Quite often, young individuals of crickets become an additional dish for an adult relative, and eating egg clutches is common.
Once in a person's home, crickets gain access to an unlimited source of food. House crickets enjoy eating pieces of vegetables, fruits, or bread crumbs left over from breakfast, lunch or dinner. If another small insect comes across on the way of a domestic cricket, it will certainly become part of its diet. No less attractive to crickets are droplets of any drinks consumed by humans, with the exception, of course, of alcohol.
Spiny Devil Grasshopper / Panacanthus cuspidatus
This insect with a terrifying name and appearance reaches a length of 60-70 mm.
The body of the grasshopper is bright green, and each limb is covered with sharp, most often yellow, thorns. In case of danger, the spiny devil rises sharply on the hind limbs, pushing the front ones forward. He swings them until the enemy retreats.
Despite the hostility to enemies, it is quite peaceful and calm, it feeds mainly on the seeds of flowering plants.
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What the cricket sings about
Songs can only be heard from males. They need a sophisticated "musical instrument" to attract females and build communication with other individuals. The main theme of all trills is the invitation of the female to mate. The louder and more interesting the sound, the higher the chances of procreation.
Males settle apart, on their site they allow the presence of female representatives, but will not tolerate rivals. A special chirp warns crickets about the borders of foreign territory. Another type of trills are fighting songs. These insects are brave and formidable warriors, they always rush into battle, protecting their borders of residence.
Interesting fact. In China, fights of specially trained crickets are held annually. The males are brought together in a kind of arena and teased with straws, forcing them to start a duel. These fights are popular among the Chinese, with bets on the winners in the thousands of dollars. A sad fate awaits the losing insects; in a fight, they lose their legs and antennae. The defeated are given to birds for feed or thrown away.
Leaf Grasshopper / Elimaea Poaefolia
The Malay Archipelago is home to and the only habitat of the leaf grasshopper camouflage master. Its name is fully explained by its appearance. A flat green body with many veins allows its owner to become invisible to enemies, turning into a real leaf of a tree.
Different types of this species can have a length of 30 to 60 mm, depending on the type of leaves under which they are masked.
Cricket in the house
If a "bake musician" appeared in the house, it was considered a good omen, a sign of well-being, a talisman against poverty and poor harvest. It was impossible to kill the insect, on the contrary, it was necessary to feed it and placate it.
In China and Japan, they even built separate houses for them and hung them in the middle of the house so that they could enjoy their singing.
However, although the cricket trill in the house is a favorable omen, people are increasingly trying to get rid of the house musician by all means.
How to get rid of an insect
You can fight crickets, like other insects, with the help of insecticides. Such a measure is suitable for premises where large populations of crickets are observed. One "singer" can be caught with a cloth, jar or box. They begin to make sounds at dusk, so with the help of a flashlight beam, you can find the source in the dark and cover it by moving it into a closed container.
You can use a sticky cricket trap. To do this, place it behind a battery or under a window. You can lure and remove the insect with the help of a special molasses syrup, leaving this product in the container overnight and often changing it to fresh. The peculiar smell of this product attracts them very much.
If the owners of the apartment do not want to re-"illegal" settlement of the musical guest, you should observe some precautions against insects:
- Make sure that there is no accumulation of water in the basement, warn sanitary services and house management workers about this in time.
- Cover up existing gaps in the floor, behind radiators, around windows and doors.
- Place fine mosquito nets over windows and ventilation openings.
- In the dark, lower the blinds on the windows or close the curtains, as insects are attracted by bright light.
- Dispose of trash in the trash can often and be sure to keep it closed.
Insect cricket
Mormon Grasshopper / Anabrus simplex
In the western part of North America, on pastures with a predominance of wormwood, you can find another amazing and rather large grasshopper - Mormons.
Their dimensions can be up to 80 mm. This species is considered one of the most hardy, because every day Mormons are able to cover a distance of more than 2 km, while they are deprived of the ability to fly.
Anabrus simplex is considered a pest, as it destroys human crops.
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Sense organs
They have a wide range of external senses. On the sides of the head are a pair of large compound eyes that give a wide field of view. Determine the movement, shape, color, distance.
There are three simple eyes on the forehead that show the intensity of light, a pair of antennae that have olfactory and sensory receptors, and mouths that contain taste buds. On the front of the abdomen, there are a pair of drum organs for receiving sound.
There are many fine hairs (bristles) covering the entire body that act as mechanoreceptors (sensors for touch and wind). They are most dense on the whiskers, probes (part of the mouth), at the tip of the abdomen.
They have special receptors (bell-shaped sensilla) built into the cuticle of the legs that feel pressure and distortion.
They have internal "chordotonal" sense organs, specially designed to determine the position, movement around the joints of the exoskeleton. Receptors transmit information to the central nervous system through sensory neurons.
Watch the video how a grasshopper chirps
Green Grasshopper / Tettigonia viridissima
The size of an average individual of a green common grasshopper is usually 28-36 mm, but sometimes very large ones are found - up to 43 mm.
Green horses are predators; smaller insects, for example, butterflies, most often become their prey. Often there are cases of grasshoppers attacking their relatives.
For the most part, the green grasshopper is a creature harmless to human activity, but sometimes large concentrations of grasshoppers in the same territory lead to the destruction of agricultural crops.
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Reproduction
Reproduction of crickets occurs when insects create comfortable conditions and an abundance of food. There must be at least 4 females in the population for 1 male, otherwise deadly fights and deafening rattling are guaranteed. A small container (4 cm deep) is placed in the container, into which wet peat, sand or plain earth is placed.
Breeding crickets at home is a fairly simple task.The main thing is to create suitable conditions - temperature, humidity and refreshment, and then give the pets the required amount of food: dry and wet. Females are quite undemanding to conditions, so very soon the population will begin to rapidly increase.
Giant leggy grasshopper
In size, it can be compared to a newborn kitten. The giant leggy is considered one of the largest and most well-camouflaged insects on the planet.
Its green wings have an oblong shape and many veins and even holes to fit with foliage and grass.
This species lives in the foothills near Malaysia. They are exclusively nocturnal. very surprising, but they do not live up to their name at all. Despite their long limbs, these grasshoppers do not jump and practically do not fly. They move extremely slowly and awkwardly.
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Lifestyle and habitat
Although grasshoppers take root well in alpine meadows, in the tropics and in the tundra, they are still unable to endure the climate of too arid deserts and the arctic cold. They feel great on the steppe expanse, in forest glades and edges, in wheat and potato fields, in thickets of bushes.
Such creatures conduct their vital activity on the surface. Hiding underground, in secluded places under fallen branches and stumps, in tree hollows and burrows is not for them. They usually just move through the grass and other plants, hiding from the hot sun and bad weather under their leaves.
They usually rest during the day, and go out to hunt at night. And it is at this time that it is possible to hear their chirping. As mentioned earlier, males reproduce such sounds. So they can attract their girlfriends for mating, and also inform rivals that this area is protected, because it is already occupied.
Grasshopper jump
Is in nature green insect, grasshopper... They are locusts. True, it can also have brown, gray and yellow, but also camouflage, that is, the color of the environment, color. And at a superficial glance, these two insects are almost impossible to distinguish.
However, there are significant differences in their behavior. Locusts live in flocks. And such countless hordes are sometimes so huge that they simply destroy entire fields of crops with fantastic speed. Grasshoppers are usually solitary creatures. And yet, the locust does not jump, but it flies well, and its legs are shorter.
Peacock (Peruvian) grasshopper
Continuing our list of large Orthoptera on - Peacock grasshopper. It got its first name from its brightly colored wings. In case of danger, the insect raises them above its head and starts jumping. This psychological technique is used to scare an opponent and avoid a fight. This color has another important purpose - during the mating season, the female chooses the male precisely for the beauty of his wings.
Although the body of the Peacock Grasshopper itself is small (up to 15 mm), the spread wings visually increase it by 3-4 times.
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Breeding crickets at home
In some countries, the breeding of crickets even takes on industrial dimensions, for example, in China they are bred specifically for the purpose of subsequent use in food (Chinese gastronomic traditions are known for their originality). And someone grows them and just as a kind of original pets. Below are some guidelines for breeding crickets at home.
- No more than 15 females and no more than 3 males can live in one container.
- Containers made of glass, plastic or plywood can be used as an insectarium for crickets, it is just important not to forget to organize proper ventilation for them.
- At the bottom of the insectarium, where crickets live, it is worth pouring finely sifted peat mixed with sand.
- It is important to observe the temperature regime.Since crickets are heat-loving insects, ordinary incandescent lamps with a power of no more than 75 watts can be used to maintain the optimal temperature in the insectarium. Such heating is required around the clock.
- It is equally important to monitor the humidity in the insectarium. In general, the humidity there cannot be more than 40%.
Pseudophyllinae
More than 20 varieties are united under this name. They are distinguished by their habitat, color. The size of almost all types can reach 30-50 mm.
They are found almost everywhere, except for Antarctica, and also not seen in Europe. They are exclusively herbivorous. They are reluctant to engage in fights with predators, so they are used to camouflaging well. Depending on the habitat, they can be green, yellowish or brown.
Do not miss out on the most dangerous insects in the world on our site there is a fascinating material.
Sevchuk Servila
This is a medium-sized grasshopper. The two-centimeter body of the insect is dense, wide, looks short. The grasshopper is painted brown. Flattened pronotum with yellow markings.
Serville's lateral keels are pronounced. By the way, the insect is named after an entomologist from France. Guyom Odine-Serville devoted his life to the study of Orthoptera.
Sevchuk Servila got its name in honor of the French entomologist
Outcome
At the moment, scientists have found and described more than 7000 species of grasshoppers. Of course, many of them have already died out, while others are on the verge of this. However, due to their rapid reproduction, the total number of grasshoppers inhabiting the planet at the same time practically does not change.
Interesting Facts
The most interesting fact is that certain species can only be female. Moreover, these females lay eggs. However, only females appear from them.
Certain species of grasshoppers are popular foods in most Asian countries. They are high in protein and other nutrients. For European people, eating insects is considered something repulsive and causes strong disgust. But many nationalities enjoy eating such healthy and wholesome food with pleasure.
Main dishes:
- insects fried in sunflower oil with garlic;
- roasted dried grasshoppers taste like peanuts;
- deep-fried insects;
- marinated grasshoppers;
- pancakes from assorted insects.
To catch the required number of grasshoppers, you need to go out with a net on a lawn with tall green grass.
The nutritional value of the insect is approximately 155 kcal per 100 g of product. The average amount of protein is much higher than in meat products, and is 30 g.
In the near future, locusts, grasshoppers, mealworms, larvae of peacock eyes and silkworms, crickets may very well be a common and popular food product. Already today, many well-known manufacturers add insect flour during the manufacture of products, thereby increasing its nutritional value and energy value.
Life cycle
In most species, conflicts between individuals rarely go beyond ritual manifestations. Some exceptions include the chameleon grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis), where males fight over females.
It takes a week or two for the insect to gain weight and mature. After mating, the female digs a hole and lays a batch of eggs in the ground near the plants. Covers the pit with soil and debris.
Eggs in pods are glued together with foam. After several weeks of development, the eggs of most species in temperate climates enter diapause and spend the winter in this state.
Diapause is disturbed at low ground temperatures. In this case, development resumes as soon as the soil warms up above a certain threshold temperature.
Embryos in the pods hatch at intervals of several minutes.The shells are discarded, the exoskeletons are hardened. First instar nymphs can jump from predators.
Undergo incomplete metamorphosis: they shed repeatedly. The number of ages varies between species, but is often six. After the last molt, the wings are fully functional.
The migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes, spends about 25-30 days as a nymph, and lives for about 51 days.
