What do Grasshoppers look like?
Grasshoppers can be anywhere from 1 centimetre to 7 centimetres long depending on the species. They have two pairs of wings, large eyes and are usually brown, grey or green – whatever allows them to camouflage with their surrounding environment. There are two main types of grasshoppers: long-horned and short horned grasshoppers. Depending on their type they will have a longer or shorter antenna (the shorter ones usually being called locusts).
Where are Grasshoppers found?
There are over 500 species in the grasshopper family in Australia.
The common green Vegetable Grasshopper (Atractomorpha similis) is found in the eastern coastal areas. The khaki-coloured Hedge or Giant Grasshopper (Valanga irregularis) is Austrlaia’s largest grasshopper is found north of Sydney in sub-tropical and tropical regions. These are two of the most common grasshoppers you’re likely to hear, as they like well-watered suburban gardens and low, broad leaved plants.
If you want to find a grasshopper, move in close to some noisy bushes. One will spring wildly into the air and land. Their strong, chicken drumstick-shaped legs allow them to make enormous leaps.
Fast facts:
- The male grasshopper creates music using his legs. Like a bow drawn across violin strings, the grasshopper draws his legs across his front pair of wings to make buzzes and trills.
- There are over 500 species in the grasshopper family (called Acrididae) in Australia, and only a handful of these form swarms that cause trouble to crops.
Grasshoppers – the full story
During the hot nights of summer, grasshoppers are getting ready to breed. Around dusk in the disappearing light male grasshoppers sing romantic serenades to attract females. Their range of pitch and calls are endless.
The male grasshopper creates music using his legs. Like a bow drawn across violin strings, the grasshopper draws his legs across his front pair of wings to make buzzes and trills. It may help attract a mate but this noisy behaviour also makes it easy for predators to find them. Sugar gliders, lizards, snakes, assassin bugs, frogs, ants and worms all love to feed on grasshoppers. The grasshopper’s solution is camouflage.
The common green Vegetable Grasshopper (Atractomorpha similis) is found in the eastern coastal areas. The khaki-coloured Hedge or Giant Grasshopper (Valanga irregularis) is Austrlaia’s largest grasshopper is found north of Sydney in sub-tropical and tropical regions. These are two of the most common grasshoppers you’re likely to hear, as they like well-watered suburban gardens and low, broad leaved plants.
Grasshoppers feed on plant leaves, shoots and roots. They only cause trouble when they appear in large numbers. There are over 500 species in the grasshopper family (called Acrididae) in Australia, and only a handful of these form swarms that cause trouble to crops.
If you want to find a grasshopper, move in close to some noisy bushes. One will spring wildly into the air and land. Their strong, chicken drumstick-shaped legs allow them to make enormous leaps.
Did you know?
You can tell a Short-Horned grasshopper from a cricket by the size of their antennae. Crickets have longer antennae than these grasshoppers. Most grasshoppers also feed on plant material, whereas crickets are omnivores. Also, crickets are mainly nocturnal, whereas Short-Horned grasshoppers are active during the day.
Tip
Grasshoppers lay their eggs in soil, although some lay eggs on leaves. The eggs remain dormant until it rains, sometimes for years. If you’re trying to deter grasshoppers, aerate your soil to disturb any eggs.
