Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Examine the insect for three body sections: head, thorax and abdomen. Grasshoppers also have three sets of legs and two pairs of wings. Hind legs will appear strong and larger than the others. The insect also has chewing mouth parts.
Watch for large insects. Grasshoppers tend to be larger than many other insects, often topping an inch in length. Depending on their species, color can vary. Some are yellow, green, brown or black.
Consider the insect's antennae. For grasshoppers, antennae are shorter than the body and are often thread-like. Two compound eyes should also be present. They are generally round in shape but can be elliptical.
Compare insects to pictures and descriptions of grasshoppers in field guides. Many bookstores carry insect guides where you'll find specific grasshopper guides online. Grasshoppers are distinctive so even if you find an unknown species, comparing the insect to photos of other grasshoppers helps you identify it as a grasshopper.
Familiarize yourself with the different species of grasshoppers. Over 10,000 species of grasshoppers exist globally. Knowing which grasshoppers habitat the area you're in helps you tell them apart and distinguish them from other insects.
Look for crop damage. Grasshoppers are notorious for eating and destroying large patches of crops such as corn and soybeans. While there are many other insects who cause crop damage, grasshoppers are a huge problem in some areas and wide destruction signals their presence. You may see them flying or jumping when disturbed.