Grasshoppers are insects from Caelifera suborder, which is made up of locusts, acridians, buzzards and acridians. The Caelifera suborder is dependent on the order Orthoptera.
Orthoptera are characterized as an order of insects that have the upper right wings covering the straight lines that apply to the lower forms, which in turn are wider and longer. The first pair of wings is used for protection and the second pair is used for flight.
The size of these insects varies between 1.5 and 10 centimeters. In addition, they are defined by having long and strong legs. This is the characteristic that allows them to move in jumps. They have small antennas characterized as filiform and are used to identify some families. Most orthoptera produce sounds and have eardrums on both sides, and the singing of these insects is a distinctive feature, as it is achieved by stridulation, that is, by sharp noises. Grasshoppers produce various sounds through rapid movements of the hind legs against the wings.
The nervous system of the grasshopper is controlled by nerve cells. Your sensory organs are close to the outside of your body, based on the hair that covers them. These consist of a sensory cell and a nerve fiber which are responsible for the stimuli. Their reproduction is generally sexual.
Their food passes through consuming various types of plants and therefore the vast majority identify themselves as being polyphagous. They also consume grasses - leaves and cereals, however many grasshoppers are omnivores, consume rice, soy, alfalfa, citrus, eucalyptus, among others.
In some countries, such as Thailand and China, food is a source of foods rich in protein, minerals and vitamins. They can be consumed in any way as long as they are in the water for 24 hours. Grasshoppers are collected late in the afternoon and a food option for many times of food crisis.
There are different species of grasshoppers belonging to the suborder Caelifera and to the order Orthoptera:
- Argentinean locust - found in South America and southern Brazil. This species is known for attacking pastures and leaves of alfalfa, wheat, corn and barley.
- Coconut grasshopper - found in Brazil. They attack various types of crops, such as cotton, avocado and cassava.
- Grasshopper - found in the interior of Europe and characterized by being a non-flying grasshopper
- Cornhopper - found in Mexico and Guatemala, are seen among plants, especially among the wild sunflower.
- Giant locust - found in Brazil and Venezuela and are characterized by being the largest grasshopper in the world.
- Migratory grasshopper - found in southern Europe and Africa.
- Pilgrim Grasshopper - known as one of the plagues of Egypt, quoted in the Bible.
- Locust-soldier - found by Brazil and known to cause damage in the cultivation of eggplant, eucalyptus, sunflower, rice, sugarcane, among others.
- Green locust - found in the North and Northeast of Brazil and also in some places far from the big cities. They are characterized by their great size and the attack on the leaves of the coconut tree.
- Locust-nosed - is one of the most curious grasshoppers of our fauna. It is recognized by its elongated shape, its elongated and flat head and its flattened antennae.
- Conic-headed grasshopper - identifies itself in our fauna because it has a very particular conical shape, although it presents changes in its coloration.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a civil organization dedicated to the conservation of nature. The latest media reports, according to IUCN data, deal with this subject by pointing out that there are a total of 1082 species of locusts, crickets and salmon in the European context.
The praying mantis, present in two images below, do not belong to the Orthoperas group, but to the order Mantodea. It is considered a sign of good luck, unlike the grasshopper which is a sign of bad luck. It feeds on small insects, grasshoppers or cicadas, avoiding the plague of the locust. They function as an important factor in pest control of various gardens or organic agricultural fields. In the world context, there are about 2300 species of mantis, found mainly in tropical areas, but also in Portugal. In the national context, they are eight centimeters in length, especially in females.
In Europe, the greatest diversity of species is found in the Mediterranean region. The species Platycleis affinis is a species of grasshopper existing in European and Mediterranean fauna, also present in Portugal. Most grasshopper species prefer grasslands and open areas in hot and dry climates. In the city of Porto, its inhabitants or visitors can find grasshoppers in the city's Botanical Garden.
Written by: Marta Santos
Photos by: Júlia Aguiar
Translated by: Rita Lopes
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