Hobbies And Interests
Lubber Grasshopper
The lubber grasshopper is an example of a short-horned grasshopper, which are species that garner their name from their short antennae that look like horns. The lubber grasshopper, also called a plains lubber grasshopper, inhabits the Great Plains from North Dakota and Montana southward to Mexico. This species is at home in a variety of prairie habitats. It will grow as long as 3 1/8 inches and the adults lack the ability to fly. The lubber grasshopper, according to the United States Department of Agriculture website, can be of benefit when it consumes weeds, but large numbers can adversely affect crops such as cotton.
Cudweed Grasshopper
The cudweed grasshopper adult is of medium size and a pale green color, with the insect's coloration blending into the plant that gives it its name. This species feeds mostly on cudweed sagewort, a plant found in the western United States. The cudweed grasshopper will devour the younger foliage of this plant, which grows to the east of the Rockies in many of the states where prairies dominate. The cudweed grasshopper female is about three times bigger than the male. This species of grasshopper is the only one known to have the ability to digest the cudweed leaves, which have a covering of fine hairs that deter other insects from eating it.
Twostriped Slantfaced Grasshopper
The largest twostriped slantfaced grasshoppers can be in the range of 2 inches
long. These grasshoppers can jump or fly to avoid predators or disturbances. This species lives from South Carolina to Florida and into the west as far as portions of California. The twostriped slantfaced grasshopper has a diet of different types of grasses. It can become a pest when it occurs in great numbers, which happened in 1939, for example, in eastern portions of Kansas. This grasshopper has two telltale dark stripes extending back from the eyes over its head.
Pallid-Winged Grasshopper
The pallid-winged grasshopper has a huge range, living from as far north as British Columbia to as far south as Argentina. The insect can inhabit areas as high as 9,000 feet in elevation or live at sea level. It is most at home in desert regions, using open areas in which to sit in the sun. The pallid-winged grasshopper is a common sight in abandoned city lots located within its range. This bug eats forbs and grasses. A strong flier, the pallid-winged grasshopper can migrate to areas where food is more abundant when it needs to.